Kylian Mbappe’s two goals in France’s 6-4 win over England in the third-place play-off moved him two clear of Lionel Messi in the race for the World Cup Golden Boot — but the Argentine can still snatch the prize in Sunday’s final against Spain.
Mbappe, 27, now has 10 goals for the tournament, the most in a single men’s World Cup this century. The last player to reach double figures was Gerd Muller in 1970. If Messi scores twice in the final, he will win the Golden Boot on assists. Anything less and Mbappe becomes the first player to win the award twice.
“Mbappe leads Golden Boot by two goals; Messi can win with two in final.”
Beyond this tournament, the two are locked in a battle for the all-time World Cup scoring record. Mbappe leads with 22 goals, Messi one behind. The previous record of 16, set by Miroslav Klose, was broken by both men at this World Cup. Messi drew level with a hat-trick against Algeria on June 16, then surpassed Klose with two goals against Austria on June 22.
Klose, who set the record during Germany’s 7-1 demolition of Brazil in 2014, said ahead of the tournament: “I expect my record to be broken at this World Cup. Both Messi and Mbappe will go far, and that is absolutely fine.”
England’s Jude Bellingham sits third in the Golden Boot standings on seven goals, the most by an Englishman at a single World Cup. Harry Kane is fifth on six.
Messi, 39, could have faced Mbappe in the final on the opposite side: the Barcelona legend was eligible for Spain but chose Argentina.