Mbappe took his goal tally to 10 with a brace in the third-place match against England. He also has 4 assists. On the other hand, Messi has 8 goals and 4 assists.

In this situation, to win the Golden Boot, Messi must score at least two goals in the final against Spain. In that case, he will reach 10 goals, equal to Mbappe. However, if the goal tally is equal, the winner will be determined by the tournament's tie-breaking rules, including assists.

Therefore, the final match holds special significance for Messi not only for the title but also in the battle for personal achievement. The Argentine captain will aim to turn the tide in the Golden Boot race as well as lead his team to victory in the World Cup's final match.