Why Kylian Mbappe's goals count after stealing Lionel Messi's record in World Cup third-place game

Why Kylian Mbappe's goals count after stealing Lionel Messi's record in World Cup third-place game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 World Cup has seen the biggest names in soccer come to the party in terms of goal scoring.

England captain Harry Kane enjoyed another fine tournament with six goals, only for Jude Bellingham to go ahead of him during the knockout rounds with seven.

That was the same number plundered in just five appearances by Norway superstar Erling Haaland.

Lionel Messi was top of the standings on eight goals heading into Argentina's Sunday World Cup final date with Spain, but he now finds himself behind Kylian Mbappe, the star man from beaten semifinalists France.

Confused? Read on and we'll explain.

MORE: Latest updates from 2026 World Cup final

Latest World Cup Golden Boot standings

Mbappe leads the Golden Boot race with 10 goals, two ahead of Messi, who could yet regain the lead depending on how Sunday's final goes.

Two goals would also edge Messi back ahead of Mbappe in the all-time World Cup goal-scorer stakes, with the Frenchman ahead by 22 to 21 after a tournament where both men overhauled previous leader Miroslav Klose of Germany.

MORE:Top goal-scorers in the history of the FIFA World Cup

Mikel Oyarzabal has an outside chance of gate-crashing the top of the standings, but he would need a pretty remarkable performance in the final to do so.

Why Kylian Mbappe's goals in third-place game still count

It might be widely maligned but the third-place match counts as an official game.

England beat France 6-4 in a demob-happy encounter in Miami, with Mbappe scoring twice and chipping in with an assist as Les Blues threatened a remarkable comeback from 4-0 down at halftime.

To this end, he followed in a sort of French World Cup tradition.

In 1958, France striker Just Fontaine set a World Cup record of 13 goals in a single tournament.  Barring something utterly ballistic at MetLife Stadium, that record will remain intact.

Fontaine had already enjoyed a mightily impressive tournament but topped up his tally handsomely with four goals in a 6-3 bronze-medal win over West Germany.

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What Lionel Messi needs to win 2026 World Cup Golden Boot

Mbappe's efforts against England on Saturday mean Messi will find it difficult to deny him a second consecutive World Cup Golden Boot.

To stand any chance, Messi must score twice against a Spain side that has conceded just once in seven matches en route to the final.

Even if he does so, he would only be level with Mbappe. The first tie-breaker for players level on goals is to give the Golden Boot to the one with the most assists. Messi and Mbappe are level on four assists apiece at the World Cup, making the latter's assist for Desire Doue could be unexpectedly crucial in the final analysis.

This is because the next tiebreaker for players level on goals and assists is who has played the fewest minutes. Mbappe has racked up 698 minutes on the field in North America, with Messi currently behind on 620.

The overwhelming expectation is that Messi will complete 90 minutes for Argentina on Sunday, or more should the game go to extra time. That would put him on more minutes than Mbappe.

Therefore, to win the Golden Boot, Messi must score twice against Spain and claim an additional goal involvement. It doesn't pay to write the great man off, but this one feels like it's beyond him.