The name of the ball for this World Cup is 'Trioanda'.
“None of our players want to play this match. Neither do the French players. Everyone wants to play in the final.”
England coach Thomas Tuchel made this remark after the semi-final defeat. France’s title hopes ended with a loss to Spain, while England’s ended with a defeat to Argentina. However, the World Cup journey isn’t over for either team yet; France and England will face each other tomorrow in the third-place play-off.
Interest in this match is usually low among both the teams and the spectators. However, for at least four players, this third-place play-off is far from insignificant. This is because goals scored in this match count towards the tournament’s total tally—meaning goals from the third-place play-off are included in the Golden Boot calculations.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are currently tied at the top of the race for the Golden Boot (awarded for the most goals in the tournament), with eight goals each. However, Messi holds the edge for now due to having one more assist. Norway’s Erling Haaland has seven goals, but with his team eliminated in the quarter-finals, he has no opportunity to add to his tally.
England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have six goals each, while France’s Ousmane Dembélé and Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal have five each. Therefore, Saturday’s match between England and France is not merely a battle for third place; it could also play a decisive role in the outcome of the Golden Boot race.
Lionel Messi is currently leading the race for the Golden Boot.
In World Cup history, third-place play-offs have previously played a crucial role in determining the Golden Boot winner. Seven Golden Boot winners have scored in this match. Among them, four players—Germany’s Thomas Müller (2010), Croatia’s Davor Šuker (1998), Italy’s Salvatore Schillaci (1990), and Brazil’s Leônidas (1938)—ultimately won the top scorer award thanks to goals scored in the third-place play-off match.
Additionally, Poland’s Grzegorz Lato (1974), Portugal’s Eusébio (1966), and France’s Just Fontaine (1958) also scored in the third-place play-off, though they would have won the Golden Boot regardless of those goals.
According to the rules, if multiple players score the same number of goals, the number of assists is considered first. If there is still a tie, the player who achieved the tally in fewer minutes of play takes precedence. In other words, FIFA’s criteria for determining the Golden Boot winner are: most goals, most assists, and least playing time.
For this reason, France’s Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, along with England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, remain in the race for the Golden Boot. Consequently, Messi will step onto the pitch for the final knowing exactly what he needs to do to win the award.
