ATLANTA: Lionel Messi has returned to the top of the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race after inspiring Argentina to a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in their Round of 16 clash at Atlanta Stadium on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old forward scored once and provided an assist as the defending champions recovered from two goals down to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Messi’s night began with frustration after he failed to convert a penalty, while Egypt took advantage to build a 2-0 lead and move within sight of a famous upset.
However, the Argentina captain responded when his team needed him most. In the 79th minute, Messi delivered a precise ball for Cristian Romero, who headed home to start the comeback.
Four minutes later, Messi brought Argentina level with a composed finish, before Enzo Fernandez scored in stoppage time to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Messi’s goal was his eighth of the tournament, while his assist took him to nine direct goal contributions at the 2026 World Cup.
The latest performance lifted him above France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot standings. Mbappe has seven goals and two assists, while Haaland has seven goals.
Golden Boot standings
| Name | Team | Goals | Assists |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8 | 1 |
| Kylian Mbappe | France | 7 | 2 |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 7 | 0 |
| Harry Kane | England | 6 | 1 |
| Ousmane Dembele | France | 4 | 2 |
England captain Harry Kane follows with six goals and one assist, while France’s Ousmane Dembele has four goals and two assists.
