Does third-place play-off count for World Cup golden boot?
Yes — goals scored in the World Cup third-place play-off count toward a player's tournament total and the FIFA World Cup golden boot race. That means France's Kylian Mbappé and England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham can still add to their tallies when England face France on Saturday.
Key Takeaways
- Goals in the third-place play-off count toward the Golden Boot standings.
- Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are tied on eight goals; Messi leads on assists.
- England play France for third place on Saturday; Spain face Argentina in Sunday's final.
- Four past Golden Boot winners needed third-place goals to claim the award.
- Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham sit on six goals and remain in contention.
Do third-place play-off goals count for the Golden Boot?
According to BBC Sport, goals scored in the World Cup's third-place play-off are included in a player's official tournament tally and the race for the Golden Boot.
That ruling keeps the race alive for stars whose teams exited in the semi-finals. France and England both miss Sunday's final, but their players can still move the scoring chart in the bronze-medal match.
For fans following every twist in celebrity breaking news, the play-off is more than a consolation game — it can decide who lifts football's most watched individual prize.
Who leads the FIFA World Cup golden boot race right now?
Mbappé and Messi are joint-top with eight goals each at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Messi currently leads the race because he has one more assist than Mbappé.
England duo Kane and Bellingham have six goals apiece, leaving them within striking distance if they start and score on Saturday. France's Ousmane Dembele is also among those who could still climb the table in the play-off.
FOX Sports notes that any goals Mbappé scores in the third-place match will count toward the Golden Boot standings, keeping France's star in the hunt despite a 2-0 semi-final loss to Spain.
ABC News reported Messi entered the England semi-final tied with Mbappé on eight goals and already holding the all-time World Cup scoring record with 21 career finals goals. After Argentina reached the final, Messi can still add to his tally against Spain on Sunday.
Have Golden Boot winners scored in the third-place match before?
Yes. BBC Sport says seven previous World Cup Golden Boot winners scored in the third-place play-off, and four of those seven needed those goals to win the award.
Germany's Thomas Muller (2010), Croatia's Davor Suker (1998), Italy's Salvatore Schillaci (1990) and Brazil's Leonidas (1938) all benefited from play-off goals that ultimately secured their Golden Boots.
Poland's Grzegorz Lato (1974), Portugal's Eusebio (1966) and France's Just Fontaine (1958) also scored in the third-place match in their winning years, though they would have taken the award without those strikes.
How strongly England and France field their sides on Saturday could decide whether Kane, Bellingham or Mbappé can overhaul Messi before the final whistle of the tournament.