They will not present the Golden Boot award, which recognizes the best player in the World Cup until all of the games in Qatar 2022 have been completed. After all, the most significant ones are yet to come.
Lionel Messi looking for Golden Boot
Messi has consistently delivered for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, and he once again starred with a goal and an assist in their 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia. His assist on Argentina’s first goal against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals was a work of art, and he then converted two penalties — one in regulation to give Argentina a two-goal lead, and another to kick off Argentina’s successful penalty shootout.
Messi scored the game-winning goal against Mexico in group play with a powerful strike from 28 yards and repeated the feat against Australia in the Round of 16 by opening the scoring with a perfectly placed, rolling shot inside the far post. Messi, 35, does not appear to create as many significant chances as he did a decade ago, but he keeps defenses constantly busy. He is among the World Cup leaders in expected goals, shots, and shots on target. If Argentina wins, you know who will walk away with a trophy in each hand.
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Kylian Mbappe looking for Golden Boot
France has lost three players who would have likely started for them in this World Cup due to injury, but they do have the best player in the world playing like the best player in the world. They’ve won all but one of the games Mbappe has started – he was rested in a meaningless third-group game – and he’s scored in all but one of them. He is tied for first place in the Golden Boot race with five goals, one less than Harry Kane scored to win the award in 2018, and Mbappe still has two games left.
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Mbappe received a 9.3 from FotMob.com’s statistical model in the Round of 16 victories over Poland, in which he scored three of his four shots and completed 31 of his 35 passes. He wasn’t as effective against England, but he provided a threat that allowed Griezmann to do more damage. Mbappe is a 23-year-old French footballer. Do you want to know how insane what he’s doing at this age is? Cristiano Ronaldo, who turned 23 at the end of the year, had 42 caps and 19 goals. Lionel Messi appeared in 35 games and scored seven goals. Mbappe has 64 caps and 33 goals to his name. Yikes.
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