Mbappe ties Messi in 2026 World Cup goalscoring race

During the 2026 World Cup, Kylian Mbappe reached eight goals after scoring against Morocco in the quarter-finals. This performance brings him level with Lionel Messi in the current tournament standings. Although Mbappe missed a penalty in the first half, he scored the opening goal early in the second half. Following the match, he was substituted due to an ankle injury, which is not considered serious. As France has advanced to the semi-finals, Mbappe will have at least two more matches to add to his tally. If the tournament ended today, Mbappe would win the Golden Boot over Messi based on a tie-breaker rule concerning the number of assists. Other notable contenders for the top scorer title include Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Mikel Oyarzabal, who remain in the competition.