Lionel Messi has taken the lead in the race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot, despite not scoring in Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England in the semifinals. Messi provided two assists in the match, bringing his total goal contributions to 12, comprising eight goals and four assists. This surpasses Kylian Mbappe’s 11 goal contributions, which include eight goals and three assists. Messi’s assists in the game helped Enzo Fernandez score the equalizer and Lautaro Martinez secure the winning goal in stoppage time.
Messi has also extended his record for most assists in World Cup history to 12. He previously made history in the tournament by being the first player to provide an assist in six different editions.
Despite his illustrious career, the Golden Boot award has eluded Messi. Leading Argentina to the 2014 final and victory in the 2022 World Cup, this accolade remains one of the few major honors he has yet to claim.
Heading into the final against Spain on Sunday, Messi is the favorite to clinch the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer. This outcome would likely be sealed if Mbappe fails to score against England in the third-place playoff. Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain, who has five goals and one assist, would need a remarkable performance in the final to surpass Messi’s tally.
In the event of a tie in goals, FIFA regulations stipulate that assists serve as the first tiebreaker for the Golden Boot award.