Messi and Mbappé’s Golden Boot battle could be decided by FIFA’s tiebreaker rules after dramatic finale.

The race for the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heading towards a finish remarkably similar to one of the closest battles in tournament history.Lionel Messi currently tops the standings with eight goals and four assists, narrowly ahead of France captain Kylian Mbappé, who has eight goals and three assists. Although both players are level on goals, Messi leads because FIFA’s first tiebreaker is assists.With France still scheduled to face England in the third-place playoff before Argentina meet Spain in the World Cup final, the race is not yet over. It is a situation that echoes the dramatic finish to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when four players ended the tournament level on goals and FIFA had to separate them using its official tiebreakers.

The 2010 World Cup produced one of the closest Golden Boot races ever witnessed.Germany’s Thomas Müller, Spain’s David Villa, the Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder, and Uruguay’s Diego Forlán all finished the tournament with five goals.Rather than declaring joint winners, FIFA applied its official ranking criteria.Müller had also contributed three assists, while Villa, Sneijder and Forlán each finished with one assist.That gave the Germany forward the Golden Boot despite all four players finishing level on goals.The remaining positions were then decided by the next tiebreaker: minutes played.Villa claimed the Silver Boot because he had played fewer minutes than the remaining two players.Sneijder received the Bronze Boot after recording fewer minutes than Forlán, leaving the Uruguay captain fourth despite matching the others for goals.The final standings were:

Interestingly, both Müller and Forlán scored one goal each in the third-place playoff. Germany defeated Uruguay 3-2 to secure the bronze medal, but Müller’s superior assist tally ensured he remained on top of the Golden Boot standings.

Although often described as a consolation match, the third-place playoff still counts as an official FIFA World Cup fixture.Every goal, assist and minute played contributes towards the Golden Boot race.History has produced several examples where the match directly influenced the outcome of the award.At the 1958 World Cup, France striker Just Fontaine scored an incredible four goals against West Germany in the third-place playoff to finish with 13 goals, a single-tournament World Cup record that still stands today.Four decades later, at the 1998 World Cup, Croatia striker Davor Šuker scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the third-place playoff. That strike lifted him onto six goals, securing the Golden Boot ahead of every other contender.

Why 2026 could produce another tiebreaker finish

The current standings show just how finely balanced the race remains.

Messi moved ahead after producing two assists in Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 semifinal comeback against England. Although he did not score, his passes for Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez took his assist tally to four, one more than Mbappé.France’s elimination has not ended Mbappé’s chances because Les Bleus still face England in the third-place playoff. Any goals scored there count towards the Golden Boot, giving the French captain one final opportunity to move ahead before Messi plays Spain in the World Cup final.How FIFA decides the Golden BootFIFA applies three criteria to determine the winner:

Those exact regulations decided the award in 2010 and could once again prove decisive if Messi and Mbappé finish the 2026 tournament level on goals.

The award has often been decided by fine margins in recent tournaments:

With both Messi and Mbappé still level on eight goals, another Golden Boot race could ultimately be decided not by goals alone, but by the same tiebreaker rules that separated Müller, Villa, Sneijder and Forlán in South Africa 16 years ago.

Argentine President Javier Milei will not attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in the United States because of a long-standing superstition surrounding the country’s leaders and the national team.

According to El Universal, Milei believes his presence at the stadium could bring bad luck to Argentina as they prepare to face Spain in the final.

Instead of travelling to the United States, the president will watch the match from his official residence in Olivos, where he has followed all of Argentina’s matches during the tournament.

Milei admitted that he also follows his own personal superstitions.

“Yes, it’s a superstition. I also always wear a jacket now because I took it off the day of the Switzerland game, and they scored a goal against us,” he said.

Many Argentines believe that the presence of the country’s president at major football matches can affect the team’s fortunes.

The belief dates back to the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, when then-President Carlos Menem visited the Argentina squad before their opening match. Argentina went on to lose 1-0 to Cameroon, and many fans have linked that defeat to the president’s visit ever since.

Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on July 19 at New Jersey, with kick-off scheduled for 22:00 GMT+3.

Earlier on the same day, France and England will meet in the third-place match, which is set to kick off at 00:00 GMT+3.

Meanwhile, reports have also claimed that FIFA is looking into a political banner displayed by Argentina’s players after their semi-final victory over England.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu entered her first final in more than two years after Tokyo Olympics champion Chen Yufei of China retired midway through their women’s singles semifinal at the Japan Open in Tokyo on Saturday. The 31-year-old Indian was leading 21-19, 15-10 when world No. 4 Chen was forced to pull out with a hamstring injury. It will be Sindhu’s first final since winning the Syed Modi International in Lucknow in 2024. She had also finished runner-up at the Malaysia Open Super 500 earlier that year. Her last major title came at the Singapore Open Super 500 in 2022.

“I’m very happy that I’ve gone to the final,” Sindhu said after the match.

“For me every match mattered a lot from the first match, especially today’s match. It was important from the beginning to be focused because when you play with the top-ranked players it’s important that every point matters so winning that first game really mattered a lot.” In Sunday’s summit clash, Sindhu will take on the winner of the second semifinal between Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi and Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani.

World No. 12 Sindhu had entered the contest trailing 6-8 in her head-to-head record against the fourth-seeded Chen, who had won each of their previous four meetings, including a straight-games victory at this year’s Indonesia Masters.

Sindhu’s last win over Chen had come in the semifinals of the 2019 World Championships, where she went on to become India’s first badminton world champion.

Sindhu relied on her attacking game and sharp net play to dictate the rallies against the Chinese.

A delightful drop shot followed by a thunderous smash to Chen’s deep forehand corner helped the Indian pull ahead early. She then produced a superb backhand defensive block to carry a handy 11-7 cushion into the mid-game interval.

Looking at her physical best, Sindhu displayed remarkable hand speed and repeatedly pushed Chen to the backcourt before drawing her to the forecourt, disrupting the Chinese player’s rhythm.

Chen regained her bearings after the interval, tightening her defence and finding greater penetration with her attack to gradually close the gap to 15-17.

A gripping 51-shot rally followed, with both players refusing to yield before Chen eventually hit wide. Sindhu then sent one long and Chen fired a straight smash to level the scores at 18-18.

But the Indian responded emphatically, unleashing two fierce smashes that Chen could only find the net with, as Sindhu celebrated with a fist pump.

Sindhu raced to a 3-0 lead in the second game before Chen reduced the deficit to 3-4. The Indian answered with another cross-court smash to stay in front.

Chen’s jump smash helped her narrow the gap to 7-8, but Sindhu responded with a delicate drop shot and a powerful smash to establish an 11-7 advantage at the interval.

Leading 13-8, Sindhu peppered Chen’s backhand with three successive smashes to extend her control. A cross-court winner then made it 15-10, after which Chen called for a medical timeout. The Chinese eventually retired from the contest clutching her leg.

“I was very focused and my coach kept saying because I was leading the first game and then she came quite close it was important that I be more focused because sometimes when you’re leading and you give away points you suddenly get disheartened, so a lot of emotions go in your head,” Sindhu said.

“My coach was saying that it doesn’t matter just focus on the next point and I think that really helped. Even in the second set there were long rallies and especially in the first game that long rally which happened and I won the rally I think that one was very important for me.

“In the second game as well I was focused from the first point because it was going quite equal and even though I was two points leading, she was covering and coming back and I think after 11, I was maintaining that three four points but yeah unfortunately she had to retire.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Playing ⁠your ⁠final World Cup match one day prior to ⁠the championship game ​is not the assignment anybody desires.

But it’s the reality for France and England as the two countries will take the field in the third-place match on Saturday ​in Miami Gardens, Florida.

“None of our players, and none of the French players, wants to play the third- place match,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said. “They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve it.”

England missed out on the title match after allowing two late goals to Argentina to fall ​2-1 on Wednesday ‌in the semifinals. One day earlier, France came up short when largely outplayed in a 2-0 loss to ⁠Spain.

France coach Didier Deschamps isn’t the least bit thrilled about competing for the consolation prize.

“The best thing for France and England would be for this match not to exist,” Deschamps said.

The contest will be the ‌final one as Les Bleus coach for the 57-year-old Deschamps, whose 14-year tenure includes guiding the nation to the ⁠2018 World Cup crown.

“I know that it’s the last match and I don’t want anybody to cry, and I don’t think anybody here will cry,” Deschamps said. “I had the privilege to go through amazing moments and to go also through some more difficult ​moments, so the end is coming near but life goes on.”

Read moreGolden era ends for Deschamps’ France as Midas touch deserts Les Bleus

France star Kylian Mbappé is tied with Argentina‘s ‌Lionel Messi with eight goals in the Golden Boot competition. Mbappe is the defending winner after also having eight goals in 2022.

But first, Mbappé is coping with the fact that his side didn’t reach the final.

“As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility,” Mbappé said of falling against Spain. “I have no problem ‌with that. We wanted to go to the final. We didn’t go.”

Mbappé has 20 career World Cup goals, one behind Messi’s record.

Three other players in this match are second-hand contenders for the Golden Boot: England’s ​Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have scored six goals and France’s Ousmane Dembele is a longshot at five.

Read more‘It is crazy’: Argentina’s Messi adds third final to his career after inspiring win against England

Kane won the 2018 Golden Boot with six goals. This will be the final World Cup match of his “prime” as he turns 33 on July 28.

It could conceivably be ​his final World Cup match, but Kane isn’t ready to discuss that possibility.

“It’s too early to talk about that,” Kane said. “I mean, as ​a person, it’s always just about taking it year by year and how I feel. The national ​team is my pride and joy. It’s what I love to do most, more than anything.

“Obviously, four years is a long way away. I’m 33 in the summer, but as you saw on the other end ​with Messi (who is 39) there, he’s still performing at the highest level. So, I never want to put a limit on these things.”

Kane and Bellingham have had standout World Cup performances for the Three Lions despite the disappointment of not reaching the final.

Tuchel has been roundly criticized for his tactics after England went up 1-0 in the 55th minute against Argentina on Anthony Gordon’s goal.

England loaded up the back end and played passively on ⁠offense. Instead of seeking a two-goal lead, England were playing not to be tied.

The strategy was foiled as Argentina scored goals in the 85th minute and the second minute of stoppage ⁠time to dash the ​dreams of English fans.

“No regrets, the team gave everything, and we were very, very close,” Tuchel said. “We deserved to be up one-nil. We played one of our better matches, maybe the best match. The team was top, but we couldn’t bring it over the line. No regrets.”

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

Betwitchery is set to chase a third consecutive victory when she resumes racing at Flemington.

The mare, prepared by the training partnership of Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin, is scheduled to begin her latest campaign in the VRC Member Brendan Sobozynski Plate (1200m) this Saturday.

Betwitchery, a five-time winner from eighteen starts and a proven performer first-up, concluded her previous preparation with a win over 1400m at Pakenham, followed by a triumph in the VOBIS Gold Distaff (1400m) at Caulfield on March 14.

After a short break, the daughter of Blue Point underwent a jump-out in April, after which it was decided to grant the mare an extended spell.

In preparation for her Saturday comeback, Betwitchery has completed two jump-outs at Flemington, finishing third on both occasions on June 26 and July 10.

Larkin conveyed the stable’s contentment with the mare’s progress, noting this will be her debut run down the Flemington straight.

“She’s going really well at home,” Larkin explained. “Her jump-outs have been good and she’s probably going her best now as she has ever.”

“She’s a mare that has always been progressing and had maturity to come, and I think that has come now as she has always been a bit fierce in her work, but she seems to be getting the hang of that now.”

“The straight for the first time is a question mark and as a Flemington trainer you would love to be able to give them a look, but unfortunately, you can’t.”

“But what she has is one of those actions that would normally suit the straight.”

“She’s a big striding mare, so she should get room, which she loves to get and I’m sure she’ll run very well.”

Apprentice jockey Holly Durnan will take the reins for Betwitchery on Saturday, and her 3kg claim means the mare will carry 53.5kg.

Want to get involved in the action? Find the best racing betting markets for the VRC Member Brendan Sobozynski Plate.

The Las Vegas Aces are turning to a familiar face to continue ramping up their offense.

On Friday night, the Aces officially announced the signing of guard Mai Yamamoto to a rest of season contract.

The move comes on the heels of the Aces announcing that rookie forward Janiah Barker would be out for the remainder of the season due to injury.

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Yamamoto is something of a known commodity for the Aces, and one they will be more than happy to see on their side this time around. On April 26, when the Aces faced Team Japan in a preseason exhibition, Yamamoto was easily the best player on the court for the Japanese with seven three-pointers and 24 points.

While Yamamoto has no WNBA experience outside of a brief cup of coffee with the Dallas Wings before the 2025 season, she brings a glut of international experience. She has been a star in several renditions of the FIBA World Cup and Asian Cup, and also put up 17 points, three rebounds and five assists when Japan faced Team USA in the 2024 Olympics.

The signing comes as the Aces aim to improve on the offensive end.

Despite looking to find players to provide scoring punch beyond the trio of A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, the offseason acquisitions have not done much this season. Stephanie Talbot and Brianna Turner have been more impactful on the defensive end, but have produced less than five points per game combined. Chennedy Carter appeared to be finding her groove as a microwave scorer coming off the bench, but things quickly soured and she scored more than 10 points only once since May 31 before being waived.

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A healthy Dana Evans and an eyebrow-raising start from Justine Pissott should help add some firepower from the bench, but the Aces felt the need to do more.

There is zero doubt that Becky Hammon and Nikki Fargas did their homework on Yamamoto after the Japan game, and they clearly liked what they saw enough to give her a chance to see if the impressive preseason effort translates in regular season action.

By Hadriana Lowenkron and Giles Turner

Fifa has no plans to move the World Cup final on Sunday, even as smoke from Canadian wildfires degrades air quality in the New York area, according to people familiar with the matter. 

There have been informal discussions about the wildfire situation including Fifa and Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup task force, but no some major formal meeting is on the books about the matter right now, according to a White House official. 

The game featuring Spain and Argentina will kick off at 3 pm at the 80,000-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.  Staff from the National Weather Service has been stationed at the Fifa command centre in Miami throughout the tournament and will continue to monitor the weather, an NWS spokesperson said.

While smoke in New York City will likely get worse on Saturday, most of that will clear by Sunday, said Bob Oravec, a senior branch forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Centre.

“Sunday will not be terrible for the World Cup,” Oravec said. “Everything we see is that the smoke will be clearing on Sunday.”

Hotter and drier conditions fueled by climate change have caused hundreds of wildfires in Canada to send dangerous smoke plumes across the continent.

Poor air quality has already disrupted professional sports, resulting in the postponement of a Thursday MLS match in Chicago and leading officials to move an MLB game in Philadelphia forward by one hour.

Air quality alerts have been issued in major US population centres, with the US Environmental Protection Agency labeling readings in cities such as Detroit and Minneapolis as “hazardous.”

Fifa previously monitored air quality at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, deploying a network of solar-powered sensors and air quality monitoring stations across all eight stadiums being used. 

While Latin Americans have traditionally rallied behind football teams from the region who advance deep into the World Cup tournament, a flood of memes, jokes and criticism has made it clear there is one exception: Argentina. In one photoshopped pic that went viral, Lamine Yamal — who leads Argentina’s opponent, Spain — is wearing a Brazilian jersey. The snarky caption? “The hope of the Brazilian people.” The fervor goes beyond the historic rivalry between Pele’s Brazil and Diego Maradona’s Argentina: Mexico, Colombia, Chile and others are all hoping Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste bite the dust on Sunday. 

A similar phenomenon occurred before Argentina won its third World Cup title in 2022.

Colombian sociologist German Gomez told AFP that the “dynamic of solidarity … has been broken” with Argentina.

He said the digital era and social networks have fueled “narratives” that the team is a darling of football’s world governing body FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino.

“Argentina has had help from referees,” said Francisco Santos, a Brazilian fan trading World Cup stickers at a shopping center in Sao Paulo, where cheers rang out when England scored first against Argentina in the semi-finals.

If Brazil could not become six-time champions, “I would rather see Spain become two-time champions than Argentina become four-time champions,” the 42-year-old said.

Critics say Argentina has received more favorable calls such as penalties and yellow or red cards against opponents, even when such decisions have been backed by FIFA and experts.

“We’re going to cheer for Spain,” said Juan Camilo Abusaid, a 28-year-old finance worker in Bogota.

‘Very political’

Antonio Lopez, 51, a police officer in Mexico City, described Messi as a “legend.”

But Lopez added: “If you’re going to sweat and break your back on the pitch to become champions twice, I accept that. If referees are going to help you, I don’t.” 

At a press conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum jokingly asked journalists which team they were supporting in the final.

“Spain! Spain!” they replied.

For Mexican anthropology professor Jorge Negroe, a specialist in social studies of sport, “this World Cup has proven to be very political.”

Gomez meanwhile said that while Maradona was seen as a revolutionary who confronted FIFA’s power, current narratives perceive Messi as FIFA’s “golden boy.”

National politics has also created resentment.

“I really don’t like Javier Milei (Argentina’s president) at all!” said Rachid Sjoberg, a 29-year-old agricultural laboratory operator in Santiago.

“The idea that he would then boast about having won the World Cup if they win does not sit well with me.” 

Argentine fans and some players have also faced accusations of racism — such as a chant sung by the team in the past mocking the Black players on the French team as not being really French.

There is also a long history of club-level fans throwing bananas on the field or making monkey gestures at Brazilian fans or black players.

During this World Cup, FIFA condemned racism in a statement after an Argentine supporter told a Black US influencer known as IShowSpeed to go “cry at the zoo” during a livestream.

‘We are unbearable’

Messi himself has acknowledged the strong feelings around whether the team wins or loses.

“Four years ago, we achieved what we wanted: to play the final and be the best for four years. Once again, we have shown that nobody gives us anything for free, and we have put ourselves among the two best again,” he said.

“Let it hurt whoever it hurts.”

A brand of fernet, an alcoholic drink which is hugely popular in Argentina, has taken advantage of the anti-Argentine sentiment with humor.

Under the slogan “We are unbearable,” it launched an advert showing fans from different teams sitting in a therapy circle complaining about Argentines’ unbridled passion for football.

While many in Latin America are rooting against Argentina, the team has received a rapturous response at training camps in the United States, with fans chanting “Messi! Messi!”

But some still embrace regional solidarity.

“I’m going to support Argentina because it’s a South American country,” said Valentino Tocto, a 20-year-old student in Lima.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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