Kylian Mbappe has moved the Golden Ball World Cup conversation into its final act after taking his goal tally to 10 in the third-place playoff. That leaves Lionel Messi two goals behind heading into the World Cup final, with one last match still available to shape the individual awards.
It is the kind of late-tournament shift that keeps the World Cup alive even after the medal places have been decided. The third-place game in Miami Gardens did not settle everything, and that is exactly why the final in East Rutherford still matters so much for the scoring race and the wider award picture.
Mbappe puts the pressure on Messi
Mbappe’s total gives him a clear hold on the Golden Boot race for now, while Messi will need a strong final if he is to close the gap. The numbers are simple: 10 goals for Mbappe, two behind for Messi. In a tournament where margins have been narrow, that is enough to keep the focus on the final rather than the closing whistle in the third-place game.
Messi has won the Golden Ball multiple times already, so his place in World Cup history is secure. But the way this tournament has unfolded means the final still has the power to influence the awards that sit underneath the biggest team prize.
What is still to be decided?
The World Cup final is the remaining match that could change the individual races. The Golden Boot remains live because of Mbappe’s 10-goal mark and Messi’s chase behind him. Beyond that, Spain appear in good shape to win at least one or both of the Golden Glove and Best Young Player Award.
There is also the broader context of where this tournament sits in history. The Golden Ball was first given in 1978, and it remains one of the most watched individual honours in the game. When the final arrives on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, it will not only decide the champion. It may also settle which players finish the tournament with the biggest personal prizes.
As Lionel Scaloni put it, Messi is “the history. He is the legend.” That is exactly why every remaining detail around the final will be followed so closely. The World Cup may already be deep into its decisive stage, but the last 90 minutes still have room to reshape the award race.
