As the FIFA World Cup 2026 nears its culmination, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé remain deadlocked in the Golden Boot race. The French captain finished his campaign on a high, scoring another brace in the losers' final against England which took his tally to ten. The Argentinian talisman will need to score a hat-trick in the final against Spain to overtake Mbappé.
Even if Messi can't get there, a record-extending third Golden Ball as the tournament's best player seems well in reach after Sunday's World Cup final against Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
He's already the only player to win the award multiple times since it was first given in 1978, and sparking Argentina's run to a second straight final at age 39 gives him a strong case for another.
Real Madrid star Mbappé also won the Golden Boot four years ago in Qatar, when France lost to Argentina in the final. This time, he could join players such as Italy's Salvatore Schillaci in 1990, Croatia's Davor Šuker in 1998 and Germany's Thomas Müller in 2010 as players whose goals in a third-place game carried them to the Golden Boot.
The other awards to be presented Sunday for performances at the World Cup are the Golden Glove for the top goalkeeper, and the Best Young Player Award, given to the top player 21 years old or younger.
Spain are in good shape to win at least one if not both of those, with Unai Simón allowing only one goal in seven games and 19-year-old Lamine Yamal providing the dazzle up front and showing why he is already considered one of the most promising players in the world.
The Golden Ball, Golden Glove and the Best Young Player Award are voted on by members of the media from a list of players compiled by the FIFA Technical Study Group.
