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Messi vs. Mbappe: Golden Boot Battle Heats Up
15 Jul
Summary
- Kylian Mbappe and France were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup by Spain.
- Mbappe and Lionel Messi are tied with eight goals each for the Golden Boot.
- France will compete in the third-place playoff match.
Kylian Mbappe and France's bid for the FIFA World Cup 2026 title concluded on Tuesday following a 0-2 semi-final defeat to Spain. The French team, aiming for a third consecutive final appearance, was outplayed by Spain. Captain Kylian Mbappe, despite a strong tournament, did not score in the semi-final.
Mbappe now heads to the third-place playoff, where he will continue his pursuit of the Golden Boot. He is currently in a close race with Argentina's Lionel Messi, with both players having scored eight goals. Mbappe holds the tiebreaker advantage on assists.
Messi and defending champions Argentina are scheduled to play England in the other semi-final match on Wednesday. Both Mbappe and Messi will have one more game to determine the Golden Boot winner. France's third-place match is set for Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida, while Spain will face the winner of the other semi-final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
