Messi to face Ronaldo in the race for the Golden Boot

• BBC Sport names 10 goals that could win the Golden Boot for the tournament’s top scorer
• Sky Sports looks at the chances of the Golden Boot on the way to the 2026 World Cup: Messi has 28 matches to score, Ronaldo has just three games
• A list of the players who could win the Golden Boot at Euro 2024: Holland and Mbappé, and Ronaldo, plus Uzbeckistan’s top scorers

After the start of the tournament, BBC Sport ran through 10 footballers who could win the Golden Boot for the tournament’s top scorer. The list includes Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Cristiano Ronaldo, Manuel Neuer, Kevin de Bruyne, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min and Sadió Mane.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports has a different take on the “Golden Boot” at Euro 2026. Lionel Messi needs six goals, while England’s Erling Haaland is expected to score in the 1/8 final match against Norway. Kylian Mbappé will be facing France’s Antoine Griezmann, and could also score in the group stage.

However, the other players also have a chance: the Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford could score, and Germany’s Kai Havertz, along with Spain’s Alvaro Morata, could also find the net. Sky Sports notes that the Golden Boot race could be decided by a single goal, and the winner may be determined by how many goals are scored in the final stages.

Sky Sports also highlights potential records: Messi has 28 matches in the tournament, Ronaldo has just three, and that is why Ronaldo could still win the Golden Boot with just one goal.

Tags: Sport/Football