World Cup 2026 Shock: Could Third Place Play-Off Goals Decide the Golden Boot Winner?
The 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.
Post Comment