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The race for the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has intensified after Kylian Mbappé drew level with Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring charts with seven goals each.
The France captain reached the milestone by converting a second-half penalty in his side’s 1-0 last-16 victory over Paraguay on Saturday, setting up a quarter-final clash with Morocco.
Mbappé calmly slotted home from the spot in the 70th minute after Paraguay’s Diego Gómez was adjudged to have fouled him following a video review. The goal proved decisive in a fiercely contested encounter played before 68,324 spectators at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field amid sweltering heat.
The strike was Mbappé’s 19th goal in World Cup matches, leaving him just one behind Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who netted his 20th World Cup goal in Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Cape Verde a day earlier.
With seven goals each, Mbappé and Messi now share the lead in the Golden Boot standings, setting up an intriguing battle as the tournament enters the quarter-final stage.
France coach Didier Deschamps praised his captain’s influence after the victory.
“He has shown the right attitude from the very beginning and gives everything for the team,” Deschamps said. “He is an outstanding player, and when he speaks, he speaks for the entire group.”
Mbappé also achieved another milestone by becoming the first player to score at least three goals in the knockout stages of three different World Cups.
The match itself was highly physical, with Paraguay repeatedly targeting the French forward. A foul by Andrés Cubas sparked a brief confrontation in the first half, while Matías Galarza later caught Mbappé with an elbow during another challenge.
Tempers remained high after the final whistle, when Mbappé appeared to ignore a handshake offered by Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who responded by tossing the ball towards the France captain.
Speaking after the match, Mbappé said France had anticipated Paraguay’s aggressive approach and responded with the required determination.
The victory keeps France firmly on course for another deep World Cup run while strengthening Mbappé’s chances of claiming the Golden Boot and eventually surpassing Messi’s World Cup scoring record.
Norway’s Erling Haaland and England captain Harry Kane remain in contention with five goals each.
If two or more players finish level on goals, FIFA awards the Golden Boot based first on the number of assists and then on the fewest minutes played. Mbappé currently holds the advantage over Messi in the first tie-breaker, having provided two assists compared with the Argentine’s none.
