World Cup Golden Boot race, picks: Should you bet Kylian Mbapp or Lionel Messi?
The summer of soccer will hit its peak this weekend.Argentina and Spain will meet in the World Cup Final in New Jersey on Sunday, while France and England will renew their rivalry in the third-place match on Saturday in Miami.In addition to crowning a champion (and a third-place team), the Golden Boot also hangs in the balance as we head into the 103rd and 104th matches of the summer-long tournament.Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are neck and neck atop the table, but the Argentine legend holds the tiebreaker with four assists to three for Mbappé.Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are technically still in the hunt with six goals and one assist apiece, but they would need to have the game of their lives against France on Saturday to make a run at the silverware.Kane and Mbappé were essentially co-favorites to win the award at +700 and +800, respectively, before the tournament, while Messi was just behind them at 14/1.Messi is also the odds-on favorite to win the Golden Ball (player of the tournament), as he looks to become the first player since Italy’s Paolo Rossi in 1982 to capture both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in the same tournament.Kylian Mbappé (+150, Kalshi)This tournament belongs to Messi, and he’s priced as a lock to win the Golden Ball even if Argentina loses to Spain, but there is no subjectivity when it comes to the Golden Boot.It’s an award given out based on stats, and Mbappé has the easier matchup this weekend.While Messi has unlocked every defense put in front of him in this tournament, he hasn’t faced one like Spain.
La Roja have conceded just one goal in the tournament so far, and they just completely blunted France’s vaunted attack in the semifinal.England, meanwhile, have had a couple of wobbly moments in their own end throughout the tournament, and you have to wonder how motivated the Three Lions will be after having their hearts broken by Messi in the final moments of their semifinal on Wednesday.If Mbappé is up for it, he cou...