This Sunday's World Cup 2026 final between Spain and Argentina at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, not only crowns the world champion but also decides the recipient of the tournament's Golden Boot. Currently leading that race is French sensation Kylian Mbappé.
The French striker concluded his impressive run with 10 goals and four assists, solidifying his position with a brace against England in the third-place match on Saturday. Although France lost 6-4 and finished fourth, Mbappé emerged as the undisputed top scorer of the competition.
Hot on his heels is Lionel Messi, who enters the final with eight goals and four assists. The Argentine captain, at 39 and likely in his sixth and final World Cup, has 90 minutes—or potentially more—to try and catch or surpass the French attacker against Spain.
The battle for the Golden Boot adds another layer to the rivalry between these two stars. Mbappé has completed his part and waits from the sidelines; Messi still has a chance on the field to contend for the individual accolade.
If they end up with the same number of goals, the tie-breaker first considers assists—more assists win—and then minutes played—fewer minutes win. With both players tied at four assists, if Messi matches Mbappé in goals, the deciding factor would be the number of minutes each has played.
There's also a historic milestone on the line. With his double against England, Mbappé reached 22 goals across three World Cups (2018, 2022, and 2026), surpassing Messi’s 21 to become the all-time leading scorer in tournament history. Messi had set that record on June 22, 2026, by surpassing Miroslav Klose's 16 goals with a double against Austria in Dallas. A goal in the final could allow him to reclaim it.
Trailing Mbappé and Messi in the 2026 World Cup scoring chart are England's Jude Bellingham and Norway's Erling Haaland, each with seven goals, though they can no longer add to their totals following their teams’ eliminations.
Among players who will feature in the final, Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal is the only one with a shot at entering the race, although with five goals and one assist, he would need a historic performance to challenge Mbappé's lead.
The rest of the top 10 includes Ousmane Dembélé and Harry Kane, with six goals each, and Ismaïla Sarr, Julián Quiñones, and Vinícius Júnior, each with four goals.
Beyond the title, the final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium is unprecedented in World Cup history and offers a parallel contest beyond the scoreboard: Messi has one last chance to snatch both the Golden Boot and the record for the all-time top scorer from Mbappé.
World Cup Final and Golden Boot Showdown
What is the significance of the Golden Boot in the World Cup?
The Golden Boot is awarded to the top goal scorer of the World Cup, recognizing the player's exceptional scoring prowess throughout the tournament.
How are ties broken in the Golden Boot race?
If players are tied in goals, the tie-breaker first considers the number of assists, with more assists winning. If still tied, the player with fewer minutes played is favored.
Who holds the record for most goals in World Cup history?
As of now, Kylian Mbappé holds the record with 22 goals in World Cup history, surpassing Lionel Messi's previous record of 21.