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Lionel Messi and Argentina are going to the World Cup final for the second time in as many tournaments after their 2-1 semifinal win over England.
Argentina will have an opportunity to become the first back-to-back World Cup winner since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Messi will also have a chance to secure the Golden Boot for the first time in his legendary career.
Messi will enter the final tied atop the Golden Boot standings with France's Kylian Mbappé. Each will have a chance to add to their goal totals in their final matches, which will decide which superstar is able to take home the coveted trophy on the world's biggest stage.
How is the Golden Boot race shaping up? Here is the latest on the World Cup's scoring leaders with action through July 15 wrapped up.
The Golden Boot is awarded to the player with the most goals scored at the World Cup. Ties are broken by the player, or players, with the most assists. Further ties are broken by the player, or players, with the fewest minutes played.
Presently, Messi and Mbappé are tied for the Golden Boot lead. That said, Messi has four assists to Mbappé's three, so the 39-year-old Argentinian is currently positioned to take home the award.
Below is a full look at the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot standings:
Watch every World Cup game with Fubo
No, Messi is not guaranteed to win the Golden Boot. Mbappé will still have a chance to catch him, as France is set to play England in the 2026 World Cup's third-place match.
Goals scored in the third-place match count toward the Golden Boot race. As such, Messi will need to wait at least until the end of that match to see if Mbappé, Jude Bellingham or Harry Kane can catch him.
But should Mbappé remain scoreless against England, Messi will likely emerge as the 2026 World Cup's Golden Boot winner, barring an other-worldly performance from Bellingham, Kane, France's Ousmane Dembélé or Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal.
Mbappe opened as the favorite to capture the Golden Boot at +550 odds, followed by England's Harry Kane (+650). Messi was +2000 prior to the opening with Erling Haaland at +1200. Here's where the odds stand now.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Lionel Messi a lock to win Golden Boot? Leaderboard, latest updates
Continue reading...
Argentina will have an opportunity to become the first back-to-back World Cup winner since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Messi will also have a chance to secure the Golden Boot for the first time in his legendary career.
Messi will enter the final tied atop the Golden Boot standings with France's Kylian Mbappé. Each will have a chance to add to their goal totals in their final matches, which will decide which superstar is able to take home the coveted trophy on the world's biggest stage.
How is the Golden Boot race shaping up? Here is the latest on the World Cup's scoring leaders with action through July 15 wrapped up.
2026 World Cup Golden Boot leaders
The Golden Boot is awarded to the player with the most goals scored at the World Cup. Ties are broken by the player, or players, with the most assists. Further ties are broken by the player, or players, with the fewest minutes played.
Presently, Messi and Mbappé are tied for the Golden Boot lead. That said, Messi has four assists to Mbappé's three, so the 39-year-old Argentinian is currently positioned to take home the award.
Below is a full look at the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot standings:
Watch every World Cup game with Fubo
Is Lionel Messi a lock to win Golden Boot race?
No, Messi is not guaranteed to win the Golden Boot. Mbappé will still have a chance to catch him, as France is set to play England in the 2026 World Cup's third-place match.
Goals scored in the third-place match count toward the Golden Boot race. As such, Messi will need to wait at least until the end of that match to see if Mbappé, Jude Bellingham or Harry Kane can catch him.
But should Mbappé remain scoreless against England, Messi will likely emerge as the 2026 World Cup's Golden Boot winner, barring an other-worldly performance from Bellingham, Kane, France's Ousmane Dembélé or Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal.
2026 World Cup Golden Boot live odds
Mbappe opened as the favorite to capture the Golden Boot at +550 odds, followed by England's Harry Kane (+650). Messi was +2000 prior to the opening with Erling Haaland at +1200. Here's where the odds stand now.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Lionel Messi a lock to win Golden Boot? Leaderboard, latest updates
Continue reading...
