World Cup final weekend narrows Golden Boot and Ball races

The race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup's top individual honors is poised for a dramatic conclusion as the tournament enters its final weekend. With only the championship and third-place matches remaining, the competitions for both the Golden Boot, awarded to the top scorer, and the Golden Ball, for the best player, remain fiercely contested.

Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Kylian Mbappé are currently tied at the top of the Golden Boot standings, each having scored eight goals. However, Mbappé's tournament is over after France's semifinal elimination by Spain on Tuesday, July 14, meaning his tally is final. Messi, whose Argentina team defeated England in the other semifinal, has at least one more match to add to his total, whether in the final or a potential third-place playoff. The tiebreaker, if needed, is the number of assists, where Mbappé holds a narrow lead with three to Messi's two.

Several other players remain in contention for the scoring title. England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham each have six goals and will feature in the third-place match, offering a final opportunity to close the gap. Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal, with five goals, also has one match remaining in...