Legend Lionel Messi has moved closer to the top of the all-time World Cup scoring charts, after the teams of his competitors exited the race for the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup. Most notably, Kylian Mbappé of France, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham of England, and Erling Haaland of Norway are out, though the English duo and Mbappé are chasing Messi until the very last moment of the tournament. The Argentine captain continues to enhance his numbers in the current edition, after raising his goal tally to eight, level with Kylian Mbappé, and maintaining his significant impact with 'La Albiceleste', giving himself a new opportunity to approach the summit of the World Cup's all-time top scorers. The circle of contenders for the top scorer spot has shrunk with the elimination of several teams, yet Mbappé, Kane, and Bellingham still have a chance to improve their numbers during the third-place playoff before the final ranking of the current edition's top scorer is decided. Messi has a rich record in the World Cup, having scored in several editions of the tournament, along with his major contributions in creating goals, cementing his presence as one of the most influential players in the competition's history. As the tournament nears its end, the 'Albiceleste' captain stands before a new opportunity to add another historic achievement to his career, whether in terms of titles or individual records he continues to break.

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