The World Cup 2026 final, set to take place between Argentina and Spain, holds more than just the prestigious trophy at stake. The match at MetLife Stadium could also decide the winner of the Golden Boot, a coveted award being contested by Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe has concluded his tournament with a remarkable performance, leading France to a 6-4 victory over England in the third-place match. He currently tops the scoring chart, while Messi has one last chance to change the outcome during the final.
Mbappe Leads the Scoring Race
Following his two goals in the third-place match, the Real Madrid forward has reached a total of 10 goals, solidifying his position as the top scorer ahead of the final.
- Kylian Mbappe (France) – 10 goals, 4 assists
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8 goals, 4 assists
- Erling Haaland (Norway) – 7 goals
- Jude Bellingham (England) – 7 goals
- Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals
To claim the Golden Boot, Messi needs to score at least two goals in the final against Spain to level with Mbappe, or three goals to surpass him.
FIFA’s Criteria for Tie-Breaking
FIFA’s regulations clearly outline the criteria for breaking ties. The first is the number of goals scored. If players are level, the total assists are considered next.
In this scenario, Messi and Mbappe are even, each with four assists prior to the final. Historically, this criterion has been decisive only once in recent World Cup history.
During the 2010 World Cup, Thomas Muller won the Golden Boot due to having three assists despite tying in goals with Wesley Sneijder, Diego Forlan, and David Villa.
If the tie persists after considering assists, FIFA will look at total minutes played. The trophy is awarded to the player who needed fewer minutes to score the same number of goals, thereby rewarding efficiency.
Before the final, Mbappe has played 699 minutes, while Messi has accumulated 620 minutes. If Messi plays the full 90 minutes in the final and scores 10 goals without additional assists, he will finish the tournament with 710 minutes, 11 more than Mbappe.
In this case, Mbappe would still win the Golden Boot, even if both end up tied in goals and assists.
A Rare Final Scenario
FIFA’s regulations also account for an extremely rare situation. If two players tie in goals, assists, and minutes played, the Golden Boot would be shared. However, such an occurrence has never been recorded in World Cup history.
