Messi Moves Ahead in Golden Boot Race After Inspiring Argentina’s Stunning Comeback
Lionel Messi has moved to the top of the goalscoring charts at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after helping Argentina complete a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the Round of 16.
The Argentine captain endured mixed emotions during the thrilling contest. He missed the opportunity to extend his tally from the penalty spot after his spot-kick was saved, but later redeemed himself by scoring the crucial equaliser as the defending champions fought back from two goals down.
Egypt had looked set for a famous victory after Yasser Ibrahim headed home the opener before Mostafa Zico doubled the Pharaohs' advantage in the second half.
Argentina, however, produced a trademark response. Cristian Romero sparked the revival before Messi restored parity, and Enzo Fernández netted the winner to send the reigning champions into the quarter-finals.
With his latest goal, Messi now leads the Golden Boot standings with eight goals, moving one clear of Kylian Mbappé of France and Harry Kane of England, who both have seven.
Argentina will face either Switzerland or Colombia in the quarter-finals.
The confirmed quarter-final fixtures are:
Belgium vs Spain
England vs Norway
France vs Morocco
Opinion
The Golden Boot race is shaping up to be just as captivating as the battle for the World Cup itself. Messi's ability to recover from a missed penalty and still deliver when Argentina needed him most is a reminder of why he remains decisive on football's biggest stage.
With Mbappé and Kane still in the tournament, the race is far from over. Every knockout match now carries double significance—keeping their nations alive while chasing individual history in what is becoming one of the most competitive Golden Boot contests in recent World Cup memory.
