{"id":16716,"date":"2026-07-03T00:15:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T18:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?p=16716"},"modified":"2026-07-03T00:15:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T18:45:06","slug":"fifa-world-cup-2026-golden-boot-race-3-mbappe-tops-the-charts-but-messi-is-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-golden-boot-race-3-mbappe-tops-the-charts-but-messi-is-coming\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Golden Boot Race 3 | Mbapp\u00e9 Tops the Charts, But Messi Is Coming"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Thirty-two teams entered the knockout rounds. The Golden Boot leader board is now a proper fight. Six goals. Shared at the top. A World Cup legend and the game&#8217;s current best player \u2014 level on tally, separated only by assists. As the Round of 32 heads into its final stages, here is where the race stands.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-black ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-golden-boot-race-3-mbappe-tops-the-charts-but-messi-is-coming\/#The_Top_Two_Mbappe_Leads_Messi_Right_Behind\" title=\"The Top Two: Mbapp\u00e9 Leads, Messi Right Behind\u00a0\">The Top Two: Mbapp\u00e9 Leads, Messi Right Behind\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-golden-boot-race-3-mbappe-tops-the-charts-but-messi-is-coming\/#Haaland_at_Five_%E2%80%94_and_Norway_Are_Still_In_It\" title=\"Haaland at Five \u2014 and Norway Are Still In It\">Haaland at Five \u2014 and Norway Are Still In It<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-golden-boot-race-3-mbappe-tops-the-charts-but-messi-is-coming\/#Kanes_Comeback_Changes_Everything\" title=\"Kane&#8217;s Comeback Changes Everything\">Kane&#8217;s Comeback Changes Everything<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-golden-boot-race-3-mbappe-tops-the-charts-but-messi-is-coming\/#Dembele_and_Vinicius_The_Quiet_Climbers\" title=\"Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 and Vin\u00edcius: The Quiet Climbers\">Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 and Vin\u00edcius: The Quiet Climbers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-golden-boot-race-3-mbappe-tops-the-charts-but-messi-is-coming\/#The_Rest_of_the_Leaderboard\" title=\"The Rest of the Leaderboard\">The Rest of the Leaderboard<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><i>The Golden Boot race is heating up \u2014 watch every goal live on ZEE 5 with the <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/myaccount\/subscription?plan-ref=0-11-7467&amp;asset-ref=0-6-4z5914493&amp;visibility=SELECTED&amp;context=FIFA\"><i>ZEE5 FIFA Subscription<\/i><\/a><i> Quarterly Plan at \u20b9799. Don&#8217;t miss a strike that could change the race.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Top_Two_Mbappe_Leads_Messi_Right_Behind\"><\/span><b>The Top Two: Mbapp\u00e9 Leads, Messi Right Behind\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 \u2014 6 goals, 2 assists in 4 matches. Lionel Messi \u2014 6 goals, 0 assists in just 3 matches. Goals level, but Mbapp\u00e9 sits at the top of the Golden Boot standings. With assists as the tiebreaker, his 2\u20130 advantage over Messi is what separates them \u2014 for now.<\/p>\n<p>Mbapp\u00e9 has been more than a finisher in this tournament. His two assists show a player threading himself into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/france\/france-squad\">France<\/a>&#8216;s attack rather than simply hunting personal glory. Six goals in four matches, and he is making teammates better while doing it. That is the complete package.<\/p>\n<p>Messi&#8217;s numbers tell their own story. Six goals in only three appearances \u2014 an average that, if sustained, would make him almost untouchable by the end. At 38, he is not chasing the Golden Boot. He is simply playing football, and the goals keep coming. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/argentina\/argentina-squad\">Argentina<\/a> has yet to play its Round of 32 match; if he scores against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/cape-verde\/cape-verde-squad\">Cabo Verde<\/a> and Argentina goes deep, the assists tiebreaker could become irrelevant very quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Mbapp\u00e9 leads. But Messi is right there.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Haaland_at_Five_%E2%80%94_and_Norway_Are_Still_In_It\"><\/span><b>Haaland at Five \u2014 and Norway Are Still In It<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Erling Haaland has 5 goals and 1 assist in 3 matches. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/norway\/norway-squad\">Norway<\/a> have advanced to the Round of 16. If Norway continue their run, Haaland can overhaul the leaders before the quarter-finals. The man is a machine in a tournament format built for machines. He has already scored in every match he has played.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kanes_Comeback_Changes_Everything\"><\/span><b>Kane&#8217;s Comeback Changes Everything<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is the most dramatic subplot of Update 3. Harry Kane had 3 goals going into the DR Congo match. He left it with 5, courtesy of a header and a rocket from a tight angle in the final 16 minutes \u2014 two goals that rescued <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/england\/england-squad\">England<\/a> and dragged him back into the conversation. He is now level with Haaland and only one goal behind the joint-leaders.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dembele_and_Vinicius_The_Quiet_Climbers\"><\/span><b>Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 and Vin\u00edcius: The Quiet Climbers<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 has 4 goals and 2 assists in 4 matches for France. Though he scored his first major tournament goal for France against Iraq, his current numbers are remarkable. The Demb\u00e9l\u00e9-Mbapp\u00e9 partnership is functioning as a two-headed attack \u2014 when one is quiet, the other strikes.<\/p>\n<p>Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior sits on 4 goals and 1 assist in 4 matches. Brazil are still in the tournament, and Vin\u00edcius is in form. Watch for him to accelerate in the knockout rounds. He thrives on the biggest stages.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Rest_of_the_Leaderboard\"><\/span><b>The Rest of the Leaderboard<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Johan Manzambi (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/switzerland\/switzerland-squad\">Switzerland<\/a>) \u2014 3 goals, 1 assist in 3 matches \u2014 has been one of the revelations of this World Cup. Three goals from a Swiss side not many predicted to score freely is remarkable. Switzerland is yet to play their Round of 16 match. Juli\u00e1n Qui\u00f1ones (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/mexico\/mexico-squad\">Mexico<\/a>) has 3 goals and 1 assist in 4 matches, with Mexico yet to concede in the tournament \u2014 a sign of how organised their entire team has been around him.<\/p>\n<p>Folarin Balogun (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/usa\/usa-squad\">USA<\/a>) scored 3 goals in 3 matches before his red card against Bosnia ended his Round of 16 involvement. He is suspended but remains on the list. Matheus Cunha (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/brazil\/brazil-squad\">Brazil<\/a>, 3 goals), Ismael Saibari (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/morocco\/morocco-squad\">Morocco<\/a>, 3 goals), and Jonathan David (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/canada\/canada-squad\">Canada<\/a>, 3 goals) complete the board \u2014 four strikers separated by only assists from the midfield pack above them.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Watch the Golden Boot contenders in action live on ZEE 5 \u2014 India&#8217;s official home of<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\"><i> FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122.<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thirty-two teams entered the knockout rounds. The Golden Boot leader board is now a proper fight. Six goals. Shared at the top. A World Cup legend and the game&#8217;s current best player \u2014 level on tally, separated only by assists. As the Round of 32 heads into its final stages, here is where the race [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":14976,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3019],"tags":[3031,3450],"class_list":["post-16716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-golden-boot-race-3"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400-4.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sourav K","author_link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Golden Boot Race 3 | Mbapp\u00e9 Tops the Charts, But Messi Is 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