Mbappé and Messi Battle for Golden Boot at World Cup

Kylian Mbappé, the captain of the French national team, netted his seventh goal in the 2026 World Cup, helping France qualify for the quarter-finals after a tight match against Paraguay, which included a second-half penalty. This performance places him in a fierce competition for the Golden Boot against Argentina's Lionel Messi, who has provided two assists in the tournament but has yet to score.

Messi, currently playing for Inter Miami, aims to add to his tally when Argentina faces Egypt in the last 16. In the previous round, Messi celebrated his 20th World Cup goal in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Cape Verde.

Other contenders for the Golden Boot include Harry Kane from England and Erling Haaland from Norway, both of whom have scored five goals. England will face co-host Mexico in the next round, while Norway is set to clash with Brazil.