Messi takes Golden Boot lead as Argentina advances to World Cup final

By Rohan Gupta — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

Lionel Messi has moved into the lead for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot after a significant performance helped Argentina secure a spot in their second consecutive World Cup final. The 39-year-old provided two assists during Argentina’s 2-1 comeback victory against England in the semi-finals. This performance places him ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé based on the tournament’s official tiebreakers, positioning him as the leading contender for the award.

Messi’s influence was crucial in the semi-final match. With England holding a 1-0 lead in the late stages of the game, the Argentina captain orchestrated both goals that led to his team’s comeback. He first set up Enzo Fernández for the equalizer in the 85th minute. Following this, he delivered another precise cross in stoppage time, which Lautaro Martínez headed in for the winning goal. This victory sends the reigning champions to Sunday’s final, where they will face Spain.

Messi’s decisive contributions

Before the semi-finals, Messi and Mbappé were level with eight goals each, having consistently topped the scoring charts throughout the tournament. While neither player added to their goal tally in the final four, Messi’s two assists increased his tournament total to four. This moved him ahead of Mbappé under FIFA’s Golden Boot tiebreak criteria, which prioritizes assists when goal tallies are equal.

Messi’s two assists also brought his career World Cup assist total to a record 12, marking the highest by any player since detailed tournament records began in 1966. He further extended an extraordinary streak of either scoring or assisting in 13 consecutive World Cup matches, a record unmatched in the same period. This consistent contribution has been a defining feature of his performance throughout Argentina’s title defense.

The World Cup Golden Boot is awarded to the tournament’s top goal scorer, a purely numerical recognition. In modern editions, assists serve as the tiebreaker if multiple players are level on goals. Historically, no player has won the award twice, and Messi has yet to claim this specific honor. The 2026 edition has been particularly high-scoring, with Messi and Mbappé already tied on eight goals, a total that has only been surpassed on five previous occasions for a single winner.

Contenders still in the race

Despite Messi currently leading the standings, the Golden Boot race is not yet mathematically decided. France and England are scheduled to play in the third-place playoff, providing Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, and Jude Bellingham with one final opportunity to increase their goal tallies and challenge Messi’s lead.

Mbappé remains the closest challenger, trailing only on assists while matching Messi’s eight goals. Kane and Bellingham, both with six goals and one assist, would need a significant scoring performance in the playoff match to close the gap on Messi. Erling Haaland, who had seven goals, is no longer in contention for the award following Norway’s quarter-final exit.

Other players who have shown strong performances include Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain, who has five goals and one assist, and Ousmane Dembélé of France, with five goals and two assists. Oyarzabal has scored in two of Spain’s six games, including braces against Saudi Arabia and Austria. Dembélé, the current Ballon d’Or holder, scored three of his five goals in the Group I clash against a second-string Norway team.

Argentina is set to meet Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium. Both the championship trophy and several individual honors, including the Golden Boot, are at stake. Another goal or assist for Messi against Spain would further solidify his position in the standings, adding to a tournament where he has already become the outright World Cup assists leader and guided Argentina to a second successive final.

With his closest rivals still having one final match to play in the third-place playoff, the race technically remains open, but Messi holds the advantage heading into the final. Barring a dramatic shift in the standings, the Golden Boot remains firmly within his grasp.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com