Lionel Messi is 39 years old and somehow still the most dangerous man on the planet at a World Cup. That’s not hyperbole. That’s just the numbers.
Argentina’s captain already owns the all-time World Cup goals record with 20. He’s scored in eight straight World Cup matches, which is also a record. And now he’s locked in a Golden Boot fight with Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane that feels like it could go down to the final whistle in July.
Here’s where things stand before Argentina meets Egypt in the Round of 16 on Tuesday (12 pm ET, FOX/Telemundo/Peacock).
Mbappé keeps coming
France’s star forward has been a machine. Two braces in the group stage. Two more goals in a 3-0 win over Sweden in the Round of 32. Then a penalty kick goal in a 1-0 grind against Paraguay in the Round of 16. That’s seven goals for the tournament so far.
Mbappé now has 19 career World Cup goals. That’s one behind Messi for the all-time mark. And he’s still 27 years old. If France and Argentina both keep winning, those two could meet again with the Golden Boot and the trophy on the line.
Messi is chasing history at 39
This tournament started with a hat trick against Algeria. He added goals against Austria and Cape Verde in the knockout rounds. And he’s doing this after a ridiculous MLS stretch with Inter Miami where he put up 20 goal contributions (12 goals, 8 assists) before the World Cup break.
He’s also chasing a third straight Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. But that feels like an afterthought compared to what’s happening in this tournament.
Haaland is becoming America’s favorite Viking
Erling Haaland was already famous. But this World Cup has made him a household name in the U.S. in a way Manchester City never quite managed. His personality is winning people over. His goals are winning matches.
Norway’s 2-1 win over Brazil in the Round of 16 was the signature moment. Haaland scored a brace and then led the whole team in that Viking Row celebration. It’s the kind of thing that becomes a viral clip. But more importantly, it put Norway in the quarterfinals for the first time in decades.
Kane is quietly doing Kane things
England’s all-time leading scorer has been steady. Four goals in his last five starts. He added a goal and an assist in that wild 3-2 win over co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 16. It wasn’t pretty. But it was effective.
FIFA uses assists and minutes played as tiebreakers if the Golden Boot race ends level on goals. So every pass matters. Every minute counts. And right now, nobody has a clear edge.
Four superstars. One trophy. And a whole lot of soccer left to play.
Leave a Comment