Mbappe pulls level with Messi in Golden Boot race, Haaland one goal behind

Kylian Mbappe scored his eighth goal of the tournament in their 2-0 win over Morocco in the quarterfinals to equal Lionel Messi at the top of the goal-scorer’s list of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Boston on Friday.

Mbappe missed a golden opportunity in the first-half, when he failed to beat Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou from the spot – his first misfire from the spot in regulation time in a World Cup, having scored in his previous three attempts in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

He made up for it in the 60th minute, when his pin-point accurate right-footed strike smashed into the back of the net.

It was his eighth goal of the tournament, equal with Messi. However, the Argentine has one match in hand as he is set to face Switzerland in the quarterfinal.

Norway’s Haaland is also in the Golden Boot race, having scored seven goals in four matches, including a brace in the Round of 16 to knock out Brazil.

Norway will face England in the last-8 on Saturday and Messi and Co will take on the Swiss later that same day.

This was also Mbappe’s 20th goal in his 20th World Cup match, and he is trailing Messi by just one goal in the all-time goal-scorer’s list.

Messi has 21 goals in 31 World Cup matches, across six editions.