Messi extends his lead in the race for the World Cup Golden Boot: How does the competition with Mbappé and Haaland stand?

Lionel Messi once again demonstrated why he is one of the World Cup’s greatest stars and the offensive leader of the Argentine national team. The 39-year-old captain struggled during a nail-biting match against Egypt, where he missed a penalty kick 20 minutes into the game, but he scored the Albiceleste’s second goal to seal a 3-2 victory over Hossam Hassan’s team. With this goal, he reached 8 in the tournament, a total that makes him the competition’s leading scorer and gives him a significant advantage in the race for the Golden Boot. The Albiceleste captain recorded his ninth consecutive World Cup match with a goal and his fifth in this tournament after scoring in the 83rd minute off an assist from Gonzalo Montiel. This goal came after the first one scored by Cristian “Cuti” Romero, who was set up by the #10. Enzo Fernández scored the third goal for Argentina. However, this latest goal by Messi was his eighth in this tournament, adding to his solo goals against Cape Verde and Jordan, a brace against Austria, and a hat trick against Algeria. He thus continues to lead a race that includes some of the biggest stars in world soccer, such as Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappé. In Sunday’s match against Brazil, Haaland scored both goals in the 2-1 victory that kept Norway in the running for the coveted trophy. On Saturday, Mbappé also emerged as the hero by scoring the winning goal on a penalty kick in France’s match against Paraguay. With their goals, both players have now scored seven, trailing Messi by just one and keeping the race for the World Cup Golden Boot—the award for the tournament’s top scorer—alive. The gap between the leading contenders is minimal, so every match can change the landscape of the competition, where Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland remain in the hunt for the World Cup’s “Pichichi” title—a race that promises excitement right up to the final minute. In addition, Argentina’s No. 10 remains at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring list with 21 goals, but Kylian is also hot on his heels in this category: he has already scored 19 goals. Now, Messi and the Albiceleste await their opponent, who will be determined by the winner of today’s 4:00 p.m. match between Colombia and Switzerland. The match for a spot in the semifinals will take place on Saturday, July 11, at 9:00 p.m. ET at Kansas City Stadium.