France just got knocked out of the World Cup semifinals, falling 2-0 to Spain on Tuesday, but don't you dare think Kylian Mbappé is out of the Golden Boot race, because he's still locked up with Lionel Messi at a mind-blowing eight goals apiece for the tournament lead! This whole thing is coming down to the wire, and it's absolutely wild how it's gonna play out.
The Golden Boot Race Just Got Wild
Seriously, these two superstars, Mbappé and Messi, have been trading unbelievable performances all summer, each bagging eight goals. But here's the kicker: if they stay tied in goals at the end of the tournament, the Golden Boot winner comes down to a tiebreaker, and Mbappé's got the edge right now with three assists compared to Messi's two. France is still playing in the third-place game on Saturday, and any goals scored there count toward the tally, so he's still got a shot to put some distance in. Meanwhile, Messi and Argentina are facing England in their semifinal showdown on Wednesday. It's truly a generational battle! If you're looking at the odds, Lionel Messi is currently favored at -160, meaning a $10 bet would net you $26.50 total. Mbappé is right there at +190, so that same bet could get you $29.00. The field drops off pretty fast after that: Harry Kane is way out at +1100, Jude Bellingham at +2700, and Mikel Oyarzabal at +6000. Right now, Messi and Mbappé lead the pack with eight goals each, while Haaland has seven, Kane and Bellingham have six, Oyarzabal has five, and Ousmane Dembélé has four. This race is tight!These Superstars Are Redefining History
We're watching history get made in real time, folks. Messi, with his hat trick against Algeria, didn't just tie Miroslav Klose for most goals in men's World Cup history at 16, he also became the oldest player ever, at 38, to record a hat trick, passing Cristiano Ronaldo! Now, he's up to 21 career World Cup goals, extending his own record for the most goals by any man or woman in World Cup history. The dude has scored eight of Argentina's 16 goals this tournament and became the first player since the 1960s to score in six straight knockout stage games! His streak of nine straight World Cup games with a goal did end in Argentina's quarterfinal win over Switzerland when he didn't score, but still, incredible. And Mbappé? Don't even get me started. He's got 20 career World Cup goals, passing Klose as the second-most in men’s World Cup history, and he hit that milestone in just his 20th match! He now has 12 knockout stage goals at the World Cup, extending his record for the most of any player ever. Plus, he's the first player ever to score eight goals in two separate tournaments. These guys are just absolutely tearing it up! So, get ready, because Messi and Argentina face England in their semifinal on Wednesday, and France plays for third place on Saturday. Every single goal, every single assist, it all means everything now. This Golden Boot race is absolutely bonkers, and you know we'll be glued to the screen for every second!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.