Do Goals in World Cup Third-Place Matches Count for the Golden Boot?
The third-place play-off has been part of nearly every World Cup since its second edition in 1934. Goals scored in this match are included in players' overall goal tallies, affecting the race for the Golden Boot.
This fixture was absent only three times: during the canceled tournaments of 1942 and 1946 due to World War II, and in 1950 when a round-robin format replaced knockout stages. It returned in 1954 and has remained a constant feature since then.
Psychologically, the match can be tough for players who just missed out on the final. England's coach Thomas Tuchel once said no one looks forward to playing it. Yet, these goals still matter. Players like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane, and Jude Bellingham could all improve their chances at the Golden Boot in the upcoming third-place game despite their teams not reaching the final.
Golden Boot contenders before the final matches
Before the last two games, seven players have scored five or more goals. Mbappe and Lionel Messi lead with eight goals each, though Messi is ahead thanks to one more assist. Erling Haaland follows with seven but won’t add more after Norway’s quarter-final exit. Both Bellingham and Kane have six goals apiece, while Dembele and Mikel Oyarzabal stand at five.
The lineup choices England and France make for the third-place clash might decide the Golden Boot winner. Back in 2018, England’s manager Gareth Southgate switched five players for the third-place match against Belgium. Kane played but didn’t score that day.
Past winners benefiting from third-place goals
Seven previous Golden Boot winners scored in the third-place match. Four of them needed those goals to secure the award. German Thomas Muller (2010), Croatian Davor Suker (1998), Italian Salvatore Schillaci (1990), and Brazilian Leonidas (1938) all boosted their tallies in that game.
Others, including Poland’s Grzegorz Lato (1974), Portugal’s Eusebio (1966), and France’s Just Fontaine (1958), also scored in the third-place match but would have won the Golden Boot regardless.
Top scorers at the 2026 World Cup
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8 goals
- Kylian Mbappe (France) – 8 goals
- Erling Haaland (Norway) – 7 goals
- Jude Bellingham (England) – 6 goals
- Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals
- Ousmane Dembele (France) – 5 goals
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) – 5 goals
