Messi Takes Golden Boot Lead After Assist-Filled Semifinal Against England
Lionel Messi took the lead in the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race after providing two assists in Argentina's 2-1 semifinal victory over England on Wednesday. The assists, which set up goals for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, moved Messi ahead of France's Kylian Mbappe in the standings.
Both Messi and Mbappe have scored 8 goals in the tournament, but Messi's 4 assists give him the edge over Mbappe's 2. The two players have one match remaining: France will face England in the third-place playoff on Saturday, while Argentina will play Spain in the final on Sunday.
Behind the leading pair, England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are tied for fourth and fifth with 6 goals each, while France's Ousmane Dembele and Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal share sixth and seventh with 5 goals. All of these players have one match left to improve their tallies.
Norway's Erling Haaland, currently third with 7 goals, cannot add to his total after Norway's elimination in the quarterfinals.
