When Enzo Fernández’s shot bent beyond Jordan Pickford in the 85th minute, Argentina’s World Cup campaign came back to life. The goal also changed the Golden Boot race. Lionel Messi had taken a quick corner, moved toward the penalty area and slipped a measured pass inside for Fernández to finish.
Seven minutes later, Messi struck again as a creator. He collected the ball on the right, looked across England’s crowded box and curled a precise cross toward Lautaro Martínez. The substitute powered his header past Pickford to complete a 2-1 comeback and send Argentina into Sunday’s final against Spain.
Messi did not add to his eight tournament goals. He did something almost as valuable. His two assists moved him to four for the competition, one more than Kylian Mbappé. That gives the Argentina captain the Golden Boot edge before Mbappé faces England in Saturday’s third-place match in Miami.
Messi Changed the Race Without Scoring
For most of the semifinal, England kept Messi away from the areas where he usually decides matches. The opening half produced no shots on target. Anthony Gordon then put England ahead in the 55th minute, and Thomas Tuchel’s side dropped deeper to protect the lead.
That retreat gave Argentina more of the ball, but space remained limited. Messi responded by moving wider and attacking from the right. His pass for Fernández was calm rather than spectacular. It found the right player at the exact moment England’s defensive shape began to crack.
The winner carried a different quality. Messi had time to lift his head, judge Martínez’s run and place the cross beyond the nearest defender. Martínez still had work to do, but the service invited a decisive finish.
Those two touches changed Argentina’s night and Messi’s position in the scoring race. Mbappé had led the tiebreak after France’s quarterfinal because he owned three assists to Messi’s two. By full time in Atlanta, the order had flipped.
Their Eight Goal Runs Took Different Routes
Messi built his total early. He scored a hat trick against Algeria, added two against Austria and came off the bench to score against Jordan. That gave him six goals before the knockout rounds had gathered pace.
His next two arrived under greater pressure. Messi opened the scoring in Argentina’s extra-time win over Cape Verde, then found the equaliser during the comeback against Egypt. He also created a goal in that match, added another assist against Switzerland and produced two more against England.
Mbappé’s path was more even. He opened with two goals against Senegal and struck twice again against Iraq. Although Norway kept him off the scoresheet, he supplied two assists.
The France captain then accelerated in the knockout rounds. A powerful solo finish and a late second goal removed Sweden. He converted a penalty against Paraguay, then recovered from a missed penalty against Morocco by bending in France’s decisive goal and adding an assist. Spain finally stopped him in the semifinal, holding France scoreless in a controlled 2-0 win.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni believes his players are comfortable in such moments. After the England comeback, he said the team plays its best football when under pressure. That resilience now shapes the individual race as well. Messi holds the lead, but Mbappé has the first opportunity to answer.
The Tiebreaker Has Real Stakes
The Golden Boot rules are straightforward. Goals decide the award first. If players finish level, assists break the tie. Should both totals remain equal, the player with fewer minutes on the pitch ranks higher.
Messi currently stands on eight goals and four assists from 620 minutes. Mbappé has eight goals and three assists from 609 minutes. The difference matters because Mbappé owns the minutes advantage if they finish level on both goals and assists after playing similar time in their final matches.
Several clear paths remain. If Mbappé fails to score or assist against England, Messi can keep the Golden Boot without adding anything against Spain. An Mbappé assist would draw the pair level on both major totals and bring playing time into focus.
A goal would put Mbappé on nine and force Messi to respond in the final. Should the Frenchman score once without adding an assist, Messi could draw level with one goal and still lead on assists. More than one Mbappé contribution would raise the target and place greater pressure on Argentina’s captain.
Mbappé Sets the Target Before Messi Faces Spain
The schedule gives Mbappé control of the opening move. France meet England in Miami on Saturday, one day before Argentina face Spain in the final in East Rutherford. Messi will know the exact target before he steps onto the field.
Saturday’s match may offer Mbappé more attacking space than he found against Spain. England must recover from a crushing late defeat, while France have to find urgency after losing their chance to reach a third straight final. Third-place matches can become open once both teams abandon the caution that shaped their semifinals.
Spain present a harder problem for Messi. They have defended with discipline throughout the tournament and allowed France few clean chances. Their possession can also keep Argentina away from the ball for long stretches. Every transition, free kick and corner may therefore carry extra weight for Messi.
The emotional demands are different too. Mbappé is chasing an individual prize after France’s title bid ended. Messi must balance the scoring race with Argentina’s attempt to retain the World Cup. Mbappé can attack Saturday with a single clear target. Messi must manage the biggest match of the tournament.
The Final Twist Remains
The 2022 final ended with Mbappé taking the Golden Boot and Messi lifting the World Cup. Four years later, their scoring duel has returned with the roles unsettled.
Messi enters the last weekend ahead because he created two goals when Argentina were nearly eliminated. Mbappé still has the advantage of playing first and the efficiency edge in minutes. By Sunday night, one goal, one assist or 11 minutes could separate them.
The race began with goals. It may end with the final pass.
READ MORE: Messi, Mbappé, and the 2026 Golden Boot Race Rewriting World Cup History
FAQs
Q1. Who leads the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race?
Messi and Mbappé both have eight goals. Messi leads the tiebreaker because he has four assists compared with Mbappé’s three.
Q2. How does the World Cup Golden Boot tiebreaker work?
Goals come first, followed by assists. If those totals remain level, the player who played fewer minutes wins the award.
Q3. How many minutes have Messi and Mbappé played?
Messi has played 620 minutes, while Mbappé has played 609. That gives Mbappé the minutes advantage if their goals and assists finish level.
Q4. Can Mbappé still overtake Messi?
Yes. Mbappé plays England before Messi faces Spain, giving the France captain the first chance to add a goal or assist.
Q5.Who won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup?
Mbappé won it with eight goals. Messi finished with seven goals but lifted the World Cup after Argentina defeated France.
