2026 World Cup: Mbappe overtakes Messi in Golden Boot race ahead of semi-final

France captain, Kylian Mbappe, is now leading the race for the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup.

Mbappe netted his eighth goal of the competition, as Les Bleus defeated Morocco 2-0 in a quarter-final fixture on Thursday evening.

The 27-year-old has missed the chance to open the scoring, when his penalty in the first half was easily saved by Yassine Bono.

But he was not to be denied in the 60th minute, curling home a sublime effort past Bono.

Ousmane Dembele added the second six minutes later, to take the game beyond Morocco.

Mbappe and Lionel Messi both have eight goals, but the Frenchman is ahead with two assists to his name.

Norway striker, Erling Haaland, has scored seven times at the World Cup.

2026 World Cup: Mbappe overtakes Messi in Golden Boot race ahead of semi-final