World Cup, France and Lionel Messi
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The stars have been out at the 2026 World Cup. We're now in the knockout rounds, and the tournament's top scorers are distancing themselves from the pack. We've been tracking the race for the Golden Boot,
The biggest names are delivering big performances Photos: Jay Barratt, Hector Vivas, Dan Mullan, Mark Smith, Maja Hitij/Getty Images; Will Tullos/The Athletic Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app. The World Cup ...
The race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot is reaching boiling point, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe shattering all-time scoring records.
The superstars have shined at the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far. Check out the latest Golden Boot odds after Kylian Mbappé's brace against Sweden.
Sometimes the best footballers flop at World Cups. On the grandest stage they can turn out not to be the best after all, champions of hype rather than talent. Not in 2026: this competition has been dominated by the sport’s titans.
ESPN's By The Numbers brings you best stats from the World Cup action on June 30.
