FIFA has officially confirmed that France captain, Kylian Mbappé, is currently ahead of Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to a statement released by the world football governing body on Sunday, both superstars are tied on eight goals each as the tournament heads into the semi-final stage.
However, Mbappé holds the advantage due to his superior assist record.
The French forward has registered three assists so far, while Messi has provided just one, placing Mbappé in pole position based on FIFA’s tie-breaking criteria.
FIFA explained that when two or more players are level on goals, assists become the deciding factor. If players are still tied after assists, the total minutes played during the tournament will then be considered, with the player featuring fewer minutes ranked higher.
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Meanwhile, Norway’s Erling Haaland, who has already been eliminated from the competition, sits behind the leaders with seven goals.
England stars Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are also in contention, having both recorded six goals and one assist each.
With the semi-finals approaching, the Golden Boot race remains wide open, setting the stage for an intense battle among the world’s top forwards.
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