Lionel Messi has moved ahead of Kylian Mbappé in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race following Argentina's victory over England.

The shift in the leaderboard highlights a tightening race for the tournament's top individual honor as the competition enters its final stages. While both players have dominated the scoring charts, the inclusion of assists in some tracking metrics has created a narrow gap between the two stars.

Argentina secured a 2-1 win over England during a quarter-final match held Thursday, July 13, 2026 [3], at Gillette Stadium in Boston. During the match, Messi recorded two assists, which provided the necessary edge to surpass the French forward [1].

According to Sports Illustrated, Messi's total in the race now stands at 10 points, calculated as eight goals and two assists [1]. This follows a period where the two players were locked in a dead heat. WION said Mbappé's eighth goal in his own quarter-final match tied him with Messi before the England game took place [2].

Because Mbappé did not add to his goal tally during the most recent round of play, Messi's contributions in Boston shifted the balance. USA Today staff said the leaderboard now shows Messi ahead of Mbappé by one point [3].

Despite the lead, some reporting remains inconsistent. While Sports Illustrated analysis said Messi's two assists gave him the edge [1], other outlets such as Yahoo Sports said the players remain tied on eight goals without accounting for the assists.

Messi continues to lead the Argentinian side as they advance toward the semi-finals. The battle for the Golden Boot will now depend on the scoring output of both players in the remaining matches of the tournament.

“Messi’s two assists against England gave him the edge in the Golden Boot race.”

The Golden Boot race has transitioned from a pure goal-scoring contest to one where playmaking and assists are serving as critical tie-breakers. With Messi and Mbappé both sitting at eight goals, the narrow lead reflects the high level of efficiency from both players, meaning a single goal or assist in the semi-finals could decide the award.