Lionel Messi took sole possession of the lead in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race after inspiring Argentina to a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England in the semifinal at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday. Trailing after Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute opener, Argentina turned the game around in the closing stages as Messi set up Enzo Fernandez’s equaliser in the 85th minute before delivering a sublime cross for substitute Lautaro Martinez to score the winner in stoppage time.
The two assists lifted Messi’s tournament tally to eight goals and four assists, giving him 12 goal involvements and moving him ahead of France captain Kylian Mbappe, who has eight goals and three assists. Messi now heads into the World Cup final against Spain as the outright leader in the Golden Boot race, although Mbappe will also have an opportunity to add to his tally when France face England in the third-place playoff.
(This is a developing story)