FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot Race: Lionel Messi Takes Lead; Here's Where Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe Stand
NDTV Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Lionel Messi took the lead in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race by scoring a brilliant free-kick against Jordan, bringing his total goals in the tournament to six.
- Messi broke Brazil legend Rivelino's record for the most goals scored from outside the box in World Cup history, now with six such goals.
- The free-kick goal extended Messi's overall World Cup tally to 19, making him Argentina's all-time leading scorer at the tournament.
- Messi became the first male player to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup appearances and joined an elite group by scoring in all three group-stage matches of a single World Cup.
- Argentina finished the group stage with a perfect record of three wins and achieved their 50th FIFA World Cup victory, becoming the third nation to reach this milestone after Brazil and Germany.
