The race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot: Messi continues to be neck and neck with Mbappe.
Spain's 2-0 victory over France not only propelled La Roja into the final but also kept the Golden Boot race between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe exciting.
The first semi-final of the 2026 World Cup concluded with a scenario heavily favoring Spain. This result not only determined their place in the final but also indirectly put Kylian Mbappe in a difficult position in the race for the Golden Boot. Meanwhile, Mikel Oyarzabal is quietly emerging as a new challenger from the second tier.
Oyarzabal and his composure from the penalty spot.
Mikel Oyarzabal continued to demonstrate why he is the most important player in Luis de la Fuente's attacking system. In the 22nd minute, after Lamine Yamal was fouled by Lucas Digne inside the penalty area, the Real Sociedad striker coolly finished into the right corner of the net, beating Mike Maignan.
His fifth goal of the tournament not only broke the deadlock for Spain but also brought Oyarzabal closer to the leading group. Unlike pure center forwards, Oyarzabal plays wide, connects the play, and is extremely dangerous in set-piece situations. With his place in the final already secured, he still has plenty of opportunities to improve his current five-goal tally.
Kylian Mbappe's helplessness
Kylian Mbappe entered the semi-final expecting to dominate the top scorer rankings. However, the 90 minutes on the pitch saw a version of Mbappe who was full of effort but lacked effectiveness. Spain's defense completely shut down the preferred spaces for the number 10 striker.
Statistics highlight the deadlock in Les Bleus' attack: Mbappe had only a few clear chances, including a free-kick that went over the bar in the 88th minute and a situation where he was pressed by an opposing defender right outside the penalty area. A yellow card in the 86th minute after a collision with Unai Simon sealed a disappointing performance. Having been eliminated in the semi-finals, Mbappe still holds his 8-goal tally, but now he only has the third-place match left to hope to maintain his leading position.
Latest World Cup 2026 Top Scorer Rankings
Here is a list of the top scorers as of the first semi-final match:
| Location | Player | Team | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Hero | 8 |
| 1 | Kylian Mbappe | France | 8 |
| 3 | Jude Bellingham | Older brother | 6 |
| 3 | Harry Kane | Older brother | 6 |
| 3 | Ousmane Dembele | France | 6 |
| 6 | Mikel Oyarzabal | Spain | 5 |
| 7 | Johan Manzambi | Switzerland | 3 |
A golden opportunity for Lionel Messi
France's elimination gives Lionel Messi a huge advantage. Although he has the same number of goals as Mbappe (8), the Argentina captain still has at least two matches ahead of him (if he beats England in the semi-finals). Messi has maintained consistent form throughout the tournament, from crucial goals against Cape Verde to the valuable equalizer against Egypt.
If Messi scores in the semi-final against England, he will officially surpass Mbappe to take sole possession of the top spot. At 39 years old, the World Cup Golden Boot is the only individual award missing from this superstar's vast collection.
Pressure from the England duo
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham cannot be overlooked. Both England stars have six goals each and will face Messi directly in the other semi-final. For Kane, this is an opportunity to replicate his Golden Boot win from the 2018 World Cup. Meanwhile, Bellingham is demonstrating the unusual goal-scoring prowess of an attacking midfielder, frequently appearing at the right moment in the penalty area.
The race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot is entering its most dramatic phase. The gap between the leading positions is only 1-2 goals, a difference that could easily be closed by a single moment of brilliance in the final matches.
