2026 World Cup Golden Boot race: Lionel Messi extends lead as stars close in
The Round of 16 has arrived, and so has the sprint for one of the most coveted individual honors in sports. While 32 nations’ dreams of lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy are now dashed, the tournament’s top goal scorers are all still alive, and they have their eyes on another prize: the Golden Boot award. Now that the Round of 32 is complete, the race has become every bit as compelling as the chase for the championship trophy itself. And leading the way, just as we all expected, is Lionel Messi. The greatest player the world has ever seen added another milestone on Friday night, scoring the opening goal in Argentina’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in extra time. The strike not only pushed Messi’s World Cup-leading total to seven goals, but it also extended his remarkable scoring streak to eight consecutive FIFA World Cup matches dating back to Qatar in 2022. For a player who already became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA men’s World Cup history earlier in this tournament, the records simply refuse to stop.Every match of the FIFA World Cup will air on either FOX or FOX Sports 1.If you don’t have cable, you can take advantage of a DIRECTV free trial to stream it all.Prefer to check out the action live and in person? Shop World Cup 2026 tickets on SeatGeek and make sure to use promo code NYPOST10 for $10 off purchases over $250 at checkout if you’re a first-time SeatGeek user.Here are the Golden Boot standings after the Round of 32: Built for match days and everyday wear, this officially licensed USMNT tee brings classic national pride wherever you go.
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