Title holders Argentina were a few minutes away from having their dream of retaining the crown crushed after Anthony Gordon’s lone strike had given England a 1-0 lead in the second semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Messi didn’t score, but his direct contribution towards the goals propelled him back into the top spot for the Golden Boot race.
1 / 6 With eight goals and four assists, Argentine captain Lionel Messi is currently leading the race to win the Golden Boot award.
France captain Kylian Mbappe, who has eight goals and three assists, will have a chance to retake the lead in the Golden Boot race.
He's also in with a chance to win the Golden Boot award.
Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 08:32 IST
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Title holders Argentina were a few minutes away from having their dream of retaining the crown crushed after Anthony Gordon’s lone strike had given England a 1-0 lead in the second semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Lionel Messi showed his elite mentality and stepped up in the dying minutes of the pulsating clash held at Atlanta Stadium to provide two assists that helped Argentina produce an epic 2-1 comeback and punch their ticket for a second straight World Cup final. Messi didn’t score, but his direct contribution towards the goals propelled him back into the top spot for the Golden Boot race.
1 / 6 With eight goals and four assists, Argentine captain Lionel Messi is currently leading the race to win the Golden Boot award. Messi will have a chance to improve his tally in the final of the World Cup where Argentina face Spain this Sunday. (AP Photo)
2 / 6 France may have been eliminated from the title race, but they still have a chance to end their campaign with a win when they lock horns with England in the third-place play-off match on Saturday. France captain Kylian Mbappe, who has eight goals and three assists, will have a chance to retake the lead in the Golden Boot race. (AP Photo)
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3 / 6 England's dream of winning the World Cup had been shattered. However, the 1966 winners have a chance to bow out on a positive note by finishing third, and Jude Bellingham, who has six goals and one assist, is still in the race to win the Golden Boot award. He's currently at the fourth spot behind Norway's Erling Haaland (7 goals). (AP Photo)
4 / 6 England's Harry Kane is fifth in this list (but fourth in the race since Erling Haaland is now out of the competition). The England captain will have a chance to improve on his tally of six goals and one assist in the third-place play-off match against France. (AP Photo)
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5 / 6 France's Ousmane Dembele has five goals and two assists to his name. He's also in with a chance to win the Golden Boot award. (AP Photo)
