# Mbappe takes lead in historic Golden Boot race, putting pressure on Messi

Kylian Mbappe has surged ahead in the race for the Golden Boot, the award for the top scorer in the World Cup. With his goals, he challenges Lionel Messi to respond, highlighting a historic contest between two football superstars. This competition adds drama to the tournament's final stages.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c89nl42dnpyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 23:48:40 GMT
- [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cre4z58pzj9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:00:56 GMT

### World
- [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/7/20/mbappe-takes-home-second-golden-boot-spain-sweeps-world-cup-awards?traffic_source=rss) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 02:09:53 +0000