Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterThe 2026 World Cup's 'Bronze Final' - otherwise known as the third-place play-off - will see Golden Boot nominee Kylian Mbappe vie to remain top of the goalscoring standings at this tournament.France were eliminated at the semi-final stage on Tuesday by an organised and ruthless Spain outfit who nullified the French threat with efficiency.Mbappe has scored 20 goals at the World Cup, including eight at the 2026 edition, putting him in pole position to be crowned top scorer - but if he nets in the third-place play-off, will they count towards his tournament total?Do goals scored in the third place play-off count towards the Golden Boot?While many write off the third-place play-off as the match nobody wants to be in, it remains a fully sanctioned World Cup fixture.That means any goals scored in the bronze-medal game absolutely count toward the Golden Boot race. After all, a goal is a goal. But not if it's scored in a shootout. You may like World Cup Golden Boot race: Who is the tournament's top scorer? World Cup 2026 Golden Boot power rankings: Can Lionel Messi top the scoring charts? Who has scored the most goals at a single World Cup? Race for the Golden Boot 2026Kylian Mbappe (8 goals)Lionel Messi (8 goals)Erling Haaland (7 goals)Jude Bellingham (6 goals)Harry Kane (6 goals)Who was the first Golden Boot winner to score in the third place play-off?Brazil's Leonidas was the first Golden Boot winner to score in the World Cup third place play-off.The man who was said to have invented the bicycle kick bagged a brace as the Selecao beat Sweden 4-2 to finish third at the 1938 tournament.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Davor Suker remains the last Golden Boot winner to find the net in a World Cup third-place play-off, scoring Croatia's winner against the Netherlands in 1998.Since then, only two other Golden Boot recipients have featured in the bronze-medal match have been Germanys Miroslav Klose in 2006 and Englands Harry Kane in 2018, but neither finished the game by adding to their tournament tallies.Diego Forlan and Thomas Muller both struck in the 2010 third-place match, but did so as part of a four-way draw for the tournament's top scorer prize, with Muller ultimately claiming the official Golden Boot trophy thanks to his superior assist tally.TOPICSThomas MllerHarry KaneKylian MbappeLionel MessiEnglandFranceArgentinaWorld CupJoe DonnohueSocial Links NavigationSenior Digital WriterJoe joined FourFourTwo as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller.
