Kylian Mbappe has backed Lionel Messi to score in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Spain as the Golden Boot race heads for a tight finish.
After a 6-4 defeat to England in third-place playoff match, Mbappe praised Messi and predicted the Argentina captain would find the net in Sunday’s final.
“Leo Messi will also score tomorrow. He always delivers,” he said.
Mbappe said he always tried to help his team and acknowledged that scoring so many goals at the World Cup had elevated his status in the game.
“I just try to help my team every time. It’s certain that when you score so many goals in the World Cup, it elevates you to certain levels. But I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history and play the match tomorrow,” he added.
Lionel Messi heads into the final with eight goals, while Mbappe leads the Golden Boot standing with 10 goals.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings
Kylian Mbappé (France) – 10 goals
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8 goals
Erling Haaland (Norway) – 7 goals
Jude Bellingham (England) – 7 goals
Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals
To surpass Mbappe, Messi will need a hat-trick or at least two goals and one assist, or a hat-trick, in the final against Spain. If both players finish on 10 goals and four assists, the next tiebreaker is fewer minutes played.
Mbappé has logged 769 minutes during the tournament, while Messi would end with 802 minutes if he plays the full 90 minutes in the final, leaving the Les Bleus captain ahead on that criteria.
Most goals in FIFA World Cup history
Kylian Mbappé (France), 22
Lionel Messi (Argentina), 21
Miroslav Klose (Germany), 16
Ronaldo (Brazil), 15
Harry Kane (England), 14
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