Lionel Messi has returned to the front of the pack in the adidas Golden Boot standings in the wake of Argentina’s dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026™ semi-final victory over England.
The Albiceleste legend did not find the net in the 2-1 success, but having entered the game locked on eight goals with Kylian Mbappe he has now moved ahead of the France forward after providing two more assists – the first tie-breaker if players have scored the same amount – against the Three Lions.
Mbappe failed to find the net in Les Bleus’ 2-0 semi-final defeat by Spain, but has one more chance to add to his tally in the bronze final in Miami on Saturday, while Messi takes on La Roja in the World Cup final in New York New Jersey on Sunday.
England duo Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are on six ahead of that Miami meeting with France, but seven-goal Erling Haaland is out of the running following Norway’s quarter-final exit.
adidas Golden Boot criteria
The adidas Golden Boot will be awarded to the player who scores the most goals in the final competition. If two or more players score the same number of goals, the number of assists (as determined by the members of the FIFA Technical Study Group) shall be decisive.
If two or more players are still equal after taking into account the number of assists, the total minutes played in the tournament will be taken into account, with the player playing fewer minutes ranked first.
Source – FIFA
