Eye on Messi in the final (Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)
Argentina vs Spain Final: The countdown to the final of FIFA World Cup 2026 has started. The first 55 minutes of the game are going to be very important for Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the final match against Spain. Its strings are connected to the race for the Golden Boot, in which France’s Mbappé has made a strong hold. With one assist and two goals in the third-place match against England, Mbappe has now overtaken Messi. This is the reason why the first 55 minutes of play in the final has now become important for Messi.
Messi can win the Golden Boot by scoring 2 goals in 55 minutes
Messi now has three ways to defeat Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot, one of which is related to the first 55 minutes of play in the final. If Messi scores two goals in the first 55 minutes or less in the final, he will overtake Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot.
Messi can win the Golden Boot by scoring a hat-trick in the final
Another way for Messi to beat Mbappe is related to scoring a hat-trick. If, like his first match in the FIFA World Cup 2026, he scores a hat-trick in the final as well, then this will take his total to 11 goals and he will go ahead of Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
2 goals and 1 assist… Messi can get the Golden Boot
The third option is that Messi scores 2 goals and makes at least one assist in the final against Spain. With this, his number of goals will remain equal to Mbappé. But his assist will be one more than Mbappé.
Mbappé 🇫🇷 with two goals and one assist jumps firmly to the top of the ⚽ Golden Boot rankings!
To win the Boot 🇦🇷Messi now needs:
1️⃣ a hattrick in the final OR 2️⃣ two goals + one assist OR 3️⃣ two goals in less than 55 mins on the pitch
To win the Golden Boot : 96% 🇫🇷 Mbappé pic.twitter.com/HOEBbZTgJ8
— Football Meets Data (@fmeetsdata) July 18, 2026
Messi can become the 5th such player
France’s Mbappe is the first player in the last 56 years and the fourth player overall to score 10 or more goals in a FIFA World Cup. Along with winning the Golden Boot, Lionel Messi will also have a chance to join the club of scoring 10 goals in a World Cup with his explosive performance in the final against Spain. He can become the 5th player to make it to that list.
If Messi misses, this record can be in Mbappe’s name.
However, if Messi does not win the Golden Boot of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, then Mbappe will definitely become the first player who will have the record of winning the La Liga Golden Boot, Champions League Golden Boot and FIFA World Cup Golden Boot in the same season.
