07/03/26 10:37:00
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07/03 10:26 CDT Messi returns to the field and Golden Boot race at the World
Cup continues
Messi returns to the field and Golden Boot race at the World Cup continues
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) --- Lionel Messi resumes his chase of the Golden Boot
on Friday.
Argentina's captain --- widely considered the greatest player ever --- returns
to the World Cup pitch when the defending champions take on Cape Verde in the
round of 32. Messi has six goals in this World Cup, tied with France's Kylian
Mbapp for the tournament lead.
The Golden Boot is presented to the top goal-scorer.
Messi and Mbapp are far from being the only contenders: Norway's Erling
Haaland and England's Harry Kane each have five goals entering Friday, while
four more players --- France's Ousmane Dembele, Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal,
Brazil's Vinicius Junior and Senegal's Ismaila Sarr have four. Sarr is out of
the running since Senegal has been eliminated.
Norway, England and France have all clinched spots in the round of 16;
Argentina and Messi need a win over Cape Verde to join them in that round.
Messi has been on an absolute goal-scoring tear, with at least one goal in his
last seven World Cup matches going back to 2022 --- something no men's player
has ever accomplished in the tournament's history. He has 11 goals in those
seven games, pushing his career total to 19. That's also the most in World Cup
history, one ahead of Mbapp.
The Golden Boot is something Messi has never won. He finished second in that
race with seven goals at the 2022 World Cup, one behind Mbapp, and tied for
third with four goals at the 2014 World Cup.
If there's a tie atop the goal list when the tournament ends, FIFA will use
assists as the first tiebreaker and fewest minutes played as the second
tiebreaker. Entering Friday, that meant Mbapp would have the edge over Messi
based on his 2-0 lead in assists.
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