Mbappe Sets Golden Boot Pace Ahead of Final
Kylian Mbappe moved to 10 goals at the 2026 World Cup and into a two-goal lead in the Golden Boot race after France’s 6-4 defeat by England in the third-place play-off. The 27-year-old’s double against England left him clear of Lionel Messi, who has one match remaining to respond in the final against Spain.
If the 39-year-old Messi scores twice in that final, he will claim the Golden Boot by virtue of having more assists. Anything less and Mbappe becomes the first player to win the prize twice.
All-Time Scoring Race
Mbappe now leads the World Cup’s all-time scoring chart with 22 goals, one ahead of Messi. His 10 goals in this tournament are the most in a single edition this century, and the last player to reach double figures at a men’s World Cup was Gerd Muller for West Germany in 1970.
Prior to the 2026 tournament, only eight players had scored eight or more goals at a single World Cup: Muller, Just Fontaine, Sandor Kocsis, Ademir, Eusebio, Guillermo Stabile, Ronaldo and Mbappe.
England’s Contributors in the Thriller
Jude Bellingham’s goal in England’s 6-4 win over France lifted him to seven goals, third in the Golden Boot standings and the most ever scored by an Englishman at a single World Cup. That total edged him ahead of Erling Haaland on assists, while Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembele sit one goal behind Bellingham.