(LAST UPDATE: 07.23 a.m.)

July.19 (Mirror Sports) - Kylian Mbappé is two goals clear of Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race — but the Argentine has one final chance to snatch the prize in the World Cup final against Spain.

A Golden Boot race for the ages is heading for a perfect finale.

Mbappé's two goals in France's extraordinary 6-4 defeat by England in the third-place play-off took him to 10 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and two clear of Messi.

But the 39-year-old Argentina captain still has one match left.

And if Messi scores twice against Spain in Monday's final, he will win the Golden Boot on the tiebreaker of assists.

Anything less, and Mbappé, 27, will become the first player to win the World Cup's Golden Boot twice.

The battle between the two superstars is also being played out in the race to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer.

Mbappé now leads that contest with 22 goals, while Messi is one behind on 21.

Mbappé's double against England also took him to 10 goals in this tournament — the most scored by any player in a single edition of the men's World Cup this century.

The last player to reach double figures at a men's World Cup was West Germany's Gerd Müller, who scored 10 goals in 1970.

The achievement becomes even more remarkable when placed in historical context.

Before the 2026 tournament, only eight players had scored eight or more goals at a single men's World Cup: Müller, Just Fontaine, Sándor Kocsis, Ademir, Eusébio, Guillermo Stábile, Ronaldo and Mbappé.

Now, Mbappé has joined the elite 10-goal club.

The 2026 World Cup has been a tournament for the game's biggest stars.

England talisman Jude Bellingham moved into third place in the Golden Boot standings with seven goals after scoring against France — the most by an English player at a single World Cup.

Bellingham edged ahead of Norway striker Erling Haaland on assists, while England captain Harry Kane and France forward Ousmane Dembélé are one goal further back on six.

But with one match still to play, the Golden Boot belongs to Mbappé for now.

And Messi has 90 minutes — and perhaps a little more — to change that.

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July.06 (Mirror Sports) - The race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot is heating up into a historic four-way battle, with football’s biggest names delivering under pressure on the global stage.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland are all tied at the top with seven goals each, setting a blistering pace as the tournament unfolds across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Just one step behind is Harry Kane, who sits on six goals and keeps England firmly in contention after a narrow 3–2 victory over Mexico secured their place in the quarter-finals.

Haaland’s brace to eliminate Brazil not only sent Norway into their first-ever World Cup quarter-final but also reinforced his reputation as one of the tournament’s standout performers. Kane, meanwhile, has continued to deliver on the big stage, overtaking England legend Gary Lineker to become the nation’s all-time leading World Cup scorer.

The Golden Boot chase is now drifting into historic territory, with Just Fontaine’s legendary record of 13 goals in a single tournament (1958) once again in focus as today’s stars push the limits of scoring greatness.

Only a select group of players in history have ever reached double figures at a single World Cup — but this generation is now threatening to rewrite that story entirely.

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June.23 (Mirror Sports) - The race for the Golden Boot is already producing history. Lionel Messi leads the standings with five goals, while Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland are close behind with four each in a record-breaking battle among football's biggest stars.

HAALAND DOUBLE SENDS NORWAY INTO LAST 32

Erling Haaland continued his sensational form with two goals as Norway edged Senegal 3-2 to secure a place in the World Cup last 32. The striker's four goals in two matches have also intensified the race for the Golden Boot.

ALGERIA FIGHT BACK TO ELIMINATE JORDAN

Algeria came from behind to beat Jordan 2-1 in San Francisco and keep their knockout hopes alive. Goals from Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri completed the comeback and ended Jordan's debut World Cup campaign.