Kylian Mbappe currently leads the Golden Boot race for the World Cup, holding a two-goal advantage over Lionel Messi heading into the tournament's final match. Messi, however, has an opportunity to catch up and potentially claim the award if he scores twice against Spain.
Mbappe's two goals in France's third-place playoff victory over England brought his tournament total to 10, the most in a single World Cup edition this century. This achievement places him in an elite group, as the last player to score double-digit goals in a men's World Cup was Gerd Muller in 1970. Only eight players in World Cup history have scored eight or more goals in a single tournament.
Should Messi score twice in the final and tie Mbappe on goals, the Golden Boot would be awarded to the player with more assists. If Messi scores less than two goals, Mbappe would become the first player to win the award twice.
Beyond the Golden Boot, both players are also competing to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer. Mbappe now holds the lead in that category with 22 goals, one ahead of Messi.
England's Jude Bellingham is in third place in the Golden Boot standings with seven goals, marking the most scored by an Englishman in a single World Cup. Harry Kane and France's Ousmane Dembele are one goal behind Bellingham.