- By Samannay Sen
- Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:55 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Kylian Mbappe backed Lionel Messi to score in the World Cup final.
- The French captain's comment quickly went viral on social media.
- Argentina face Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 title clash.
With just a few hours left for the championship match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, all eyes are fixed on the showdown between Argentina and Spain. However, the focus in general will also be on the winner of the Golden Boot, where Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi are in the limelight.
Currently, Mbappé leads the race for the Golden Boot with ten goals after the match for third place, while Messi has scored 8 goals leading up to the final on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium. The Argentine legend has one last chance to catch up with his rival.
Before the match, Mbappé made a bold prediction regarding Messi, which became famous on the internet.
Kylian Mbappé Backs Lionel Messi To Score In World Cup Final
Speaking to Fox Sports, Mbappé expressed complete confidence in Messi's ability to deliver on football's biggest stage. "Leo, he scores all the time. Tomorrow he will score, for sure," Mbappé told Fox Sports.
The French forward's comments have generated massive excitement among football fans, especially with Messi preparing to play what could be the final World Cup match of his illustrious career.
The 39-year-old has already produced several memorable performances in the tournament and will now look to inspire Argentina to back-to-back World Cup titles.
A goal in the final would not only strengthen Messi's claim for another World Cup triumph but also keep the Golden Boot race alive until the very last whistle.
Mbappé Reflects On Golden Boot Race
Although Mbappé finished the tournament as the leading scorer with 10 goals, the French captain admitted that personal milestones mean little compared to missing out on the World Cup final.
The Real Madrid forward insisted he would happily trade his scoring record for another chance to compete for football's biggest prize.
"I just try to help my team every time. It's certain that when you score so many goals in the World Cup, it elevates you to certain levels. But I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history and play the match tomorrow," he said.
After losing in the semifinals, Mbappé's goal of defending the title that France had won four years back in Qatar came to nothing.
This brings the focus on the Spain vs Argentina clash. Although it seems that Mbappé's Golden Boot is safe, his prediction has given rise to another interesting subplot to the feisty and historic final, as millions now wait to see whether Messi lives up to his former teammate's expectations once again on the big stage.