The World Cup Golden Boot will still be on the line in Saturday’s third-place play-off between England and France. Goals in the match count toward the tournament scoring race, giving both teams’ leading attackers one more chance to change the final standings.
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are level at the top with eight goals, although Messi is currently ahead on assists. Mbappe can move clear in the England match, while Messi will have the final against Spain to add to his total.
One More Match for England and France
England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham each have six goals, while France winger Ousmane Dembele has scored five. Their involvement will depend on the line-ups selected for a fixture that comes immediately after both sides’ semi-final exits.
Spain striker Mikel Oyarzabal also has five goals and can improve his tally in the final against Argentina. Norway’s Erling Haaland remains on seven goals, but cannot add to that total after Norway’s quarter-final elimination.
| Player | Team | Goals | Remaining Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8 | Final vs Spain |
| Kylian Mbappe | France | 8 | Third-place play-off vs England |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 7 | Eliminated |
| Harry Kane | England | 6 | Third-place play-off vs France |
| Jude Bellingham | England | 6 | Third-place play-off vs France |
| Ousmane Dembele | France | 5 | Third-place play-off vs England |
| Mikel Oyarzabal | Spain | 5 | Final vs Argentina |
The outcome may be influenced by how strongly England and France approach the third-place match. In 2018, England manager Gareth Southgate made five changes after the semi-final defeat to Croatia, although Kane started against Belgium and did not score.
Third-Place Goals Have Decided the Award Before
Goals scored in a third-place play-off have helped decide the Golden Boot on several occasions, according to www.bbc.com. Four winners needed goals from that match to secure the award.
Thomas Muller in 2010, Davor Suker in 1998, Salvatore Schillaci in 1990 and Brazil’s Leonidas in 1938 all benefited from scoring in the third-place game. Those goals ultimately proved decisive in their Golden Boot wins.
Other winners also scored in the match without needing those goals to finish first in the scoring chart. Poland’s Grzegorz Lato in 1974, Portugal great Eusebio in 1966 and France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 had already done enough to win the award.
That history gives Saturday’s match significance beyond the final placings. A strong performance from Mbappe, Kane, Bellingham or Dembele could still reshape the World Cup 2026 scoring race before Spain and Argentina meet in the final.
