Messi vs Mbappe: Inside the Tightest Golden Boot Race in Recent World Cup Memory
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are locked together on seven goals apiece as the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race turns into the tournament's defining storyline.
Lionel Messi
5 articles
World Cup 2026 Stats: Mbappe Tops Messi, Ronaldo Breaks Knockout Duck, Manzambi Channels Pele
Kylian Mbappe surpasses Lionel Messi's record, Cristiano Ronaldo scores his first knockout goal at 39, and Switzerland's Johan Manzambi becomes the youngest player with five goal involvements since Pele.
World Cup Golden Boot Race: Mbappe Catches Messi as Ronaldo's Record Falls
Kylian Mbappe has matched Lionel Messi's tournament-leading goal tally at the 2026 World Cup while breaking Ronaldo's all-time record and Haaland hunts from behind.
Cape Verde vs Argentina: The Small Island Nation Stands Between Messi and History
Cape Verde reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time and now face Lionel Messi's Argentina in a Round of 32 David vs Goliath showdown.
Messi's Six Goals Carry Argentina to No. 2 and a New World Cup Record
Lionel Messi scored six times in Group J, including a hat-trick against Algeria, to reach 19 career World Cup goals and lift defending champions Argentina to second in the post-group-stage power rankings.