Top News

18 July 2026

This summer has witnessed football’s biggest stars lighting up the stage, with the race for the Golden Boot still wide open as the tournament nears its conclusion, with just two matches remaining.

France will take on England in the third-place play-off this evening, and several key players from both sides remain strong contenders for the top scorer’s award.

Kylian Mbappe heads into the final fixtures as the joint-top scorer of the World Cup. The French forward aims to become the first player in history to claim multiple Golden Boots in the tournament, having netted eight goals during the 2022 edition in Qatar.

Harry Kane could also achieve that remarkable feat, though he will require an extraordinary performance against France—if included in the starting eleven. The England captain currently has six goals, sharing that tally with his teammate Jude Bellingham.

On Sunday, Spain and Argentina will battle it out in the World Cup final in New Jersey. Lionel Messi leads the Golden Boot standings alongside Mbappe, having scored eight times—surpassing his tally from four years ago.

The 39-year-old Argentine icon has enjoyed a sensational campaign, breaking multiple records, including becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

Messi could also join an exclusive club by becoming only the second player ever to win the Golden Ball, Golden Boot, and World Cup in the same tournament—following in the footsteps of Italy’s Paulo Rossi, who achieved the treble in 1982.

Of the tournament’s seven leading scorers, six still have one more game to influence the final standings.

Lionel Messi – Argentina (8)

Kylian Mbappe – France (8)

Erling Haaland – Norway (7)*

Harry Kane – England (6)

Jude Bellingham – England (6)

Mikel Oyarzabal – Spain (5)

Ousmane Dembele – France (5)

*Eliminated from the competition and will not feature further.