This weekend marks the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, with so much on the line for the remaining four sides.
Yes, there are technically still four sides left in the competition despite Sunday’s final featuring Spain and Argentina.
This is a result of Saturday’s bronze medal game being played in Miami between England and France.
Is the third place play-off game the most pointless match in football, or is the bronze medal genuinely an achievement?
Will you even be watching it?
As well as the World Cup trophy, there are also a number of players still battling it out for the Golden Boot award.
Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham all have their eyes on the prize ahead of this weekend.
However, with Messi and Mbappe both currently tied on eight goals, how will the Golden Boot award be decided if neither score on Sunday?
Whether the third place game between England and France counts towards the Golden Boot
Despite being somewhat of a novelty game, the meeting between England and France will offer Mbappe, Kane and Bellingham an opportunity to add to their tallies.
Yes, the third place game in Miami will count towards the Golden Boot award.
As things stand, Mbappe is heading into Saturday’s game having scored eight goals, which is exactly the same as finalist Messi.
It must be noted that both Kane and Bellingham have also scored six goals each for the Three Lions. This provides them with an outside chance at the award.
How the World Cup Golden Boot will be decided if Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe don’t score
Although Messi and Mbappe are both tied on eight goals each, it is actually Messi who is leading the race for the Golden Boot before a ball is kicked this weekend.
If neither player was involved in a goal this weekend, Messi could claim the award as he has provided one more assist than the Frenchman.
Ahead of the games on Saturday and Sunday, Mbappe has provided France with three assists, but Messi has provided four for Argentina.
Whether Mbappe, Kane or Bellingham feature on Saturday is another matter, given Thomas Tuchel has already played down the third place game.
What will happen if two players finish on the same number of goals and assists
Should Messi and Mbappe – realistically speaking – finish on the same number of goals and assists, this is where things get interesting.
A complete tie in goal contributions would see FIFA rule the winner based on which individual had played the fewest minutes over the course of the tournament.
Before a ball is kicked this weekend, Messi has played 620 minutes over the course of Argentina’s seven games.
Mbappe, however, goes into his game on Saturday against England having played slightly fewer minutes, with 609 to his name in this summer’s tournament.
It could get very interesting come Sunday should Mbappe add to his tally against the Three Lions.
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