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The 2026 World Cup has narrowed from 48 teams down to just eight as every goal now carries twice the weight in the race for the Golden Boot.
The Round of 16 provided plenty of drama and excitement as Golden Boot leader Lionel Messi and Argentina were on the precipice of crashing out of the tournament before they rallied from a two-goal deficit against Egypt in the final 11 minutes for a shocking 3-2 victory.
Messi scored the equalizer and reclaimed his lead atop the race ahead of France superstar Kylian Mbappé.
Norway’s Erling Haaland scored a brace in Norway’s stunning upset over five-time world champions Brazil.
England captain Harry Kane is up to six goals after scoring against Mexico, but his teammate, Jude Bellingham, scored twice in that match and is not far behind.
The biggest development may not be who scored, but who won’t score again.
Brazil’s elimination ended Vinícius Júnior’s hopes of making a late charge. Spain’s victory over Portugal officially closed the book on Cristiano Ronaldo’s final Golden Boot pursuit, while the exits of the United States and Mexico eliminated Folarin Balogun and Julián Quiñones from contention.
The list of challengers is shrinking almost as quickly as the tournament field itself.
Now the spotlight shifts to the quarterfinals, where this three-horse race between Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland can either continue or see one, both, or all three eliminated.
History suggests the eventual winner usually will come from a team playing in the final. With only eight nations still standing, it can only be one of a handful of players. For now, the chase belongs to Messi.
Here’s the current Golden Boot standings (through the Round of 16):
8 goals
- Lionel Messi, Argentina
7 goals
- Kylian Mbappé, France
- Erling Haaland, Norway
6 goals
- Harry Kane, England
4 goals
- Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain
- Ousmane Dembélé, France
- Jude Bellingham, England
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.
World Cup Merch shop
USMNT Icon Red T-Shirt
Built for match days and everyday wear, this officially licensed USMNT tee brings classic national pride wherever you go.
Christian Pulisic Navy USMNT T-Shirt
Rep your favorite player in classic navy with this officially licensed tee made for diehard fans and big match energy.
USA Soccer Front/Back Crest Pullover Hoodie
Stay warm while repping the red, white, and blue in this officially licensed USMNT pullover hoodie featuring bold front and back crest graphics.
FIFA World Cup ’26 Host Country Flags T-Shirt
Celebrate the global game in style with this FIFA World Cup 26 tee featuring all three host countries’ logos and flags.
2026 Panini FIFA World Cup Sticker Box (25 Sticker Packs)
Rip into the excitement of World Cup season with this 2026 Panini sticker box packed with 25 packs of collectible stickers for fans and traders.
adidas FIFA World Cup ’26 Trionda Host Nation League Soccer Ball
Bring World Cup vibes to every kickaround with the official adidas FIFA World Cup ’26 Soccer Ball built with host nation style and game-ready feel.
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Source: New York Post
