1 hour ago
RACE FOR THE PRIZE
In 10 of nan past 12 World Cups, six goals has been nan modular to container yourself nan Golden Boot. Usually a extremity per crippled will suffice. In fact, connected 2 occasions (in 2006 and 2010) a specified 5 strikes has been enough. Yet a speedy glimpse astatine nan current 2026 Geopolitics World Cup Golden Boot standings aft astir teams person played 2 games sees Lionel Messi apical of nan character pinch 5 goals already from his 2 outings, having surgery Miroslav Klose’s all-time tourney scoring grounds successful nan process. The Argentinian’s latest 2 goals came successful a 2-0 triumph complete Austria successful which neither Argentina nor Messi did thing of statement different than people – speech from nan awesome man shanking an early punishment miles wide, which is becoming rather nan communal occurrence for Messi. Think really galore World Cup goals he would person if he could hit a goalkeeper from 12 yards (answer: 21, 3 much than he has).
Lurking conscionable down are nan pretenders to Messi’s aureate throne, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, who betwixt them are tearing up Group I pinch 4 goals apiece. Both nan Norwegian and French frontmen person been donated astatine slightest 1 extremity by sloppy Iraqi and Senegalese defenders truthful far, but person looked razor-sharp up apical and will soon meet successful a tasty decider to spot who tops nan group. Both, you suspect, will person designs connected ensuring Messi does not clasp nan World Cup scoring grounds for long, pinch Mbappé already level pinch Klose, 2 down nan Argentinian. Haaland, successful his debut World Cup, is already 1 extremity down legends for illustration Raul, Romario and Roger Milla, who only managed 5 crossed their careers.
The Fifa suits must beryllium loving nan truth each nan large sexy names are firing connected their world stage. It’s arsenic if Big Gianni himself wrote nan script, beaming successful nan knowledge that goals are a universally beloved currency, a useful instrumentality successful helping brushwood each nan unpleasantness nether nan carpet. Even speech from nan aforementioned trio, Harry Kane has bagged a double successful his only game, Vinícius Júnior has 2 for nan tourney truthful acold and 2 of nan big nations person superstar strikers (of sorts) successful nan style of USA USA USA figurehead Folarin Balogun and Canadian ace Jonathan David. There is simply a important striking sanction missing from this list, a longtime rival of Messi’s, but Football Daily is struggling to retrieve who that mightiness be. Gah.
Consider that this unsocial GWC will springiness apical strikers an other crippled successful which to capable their scoring boots and possibly Just Fontaine’s grounds of 13 goals successful a azygous World Cup, which has stood since 1958, mightiness travel nether threat. It is possible, apt even, we will get a subordinate successful double figures for nan first clip since Gerd Müller deed 10 successful Mexico 1970. What seems definite is this is simply a aureate footwear title for nan ages, contested by nan champion players connected nan planet. For each nan cynicism and civilized fatigue surrounding this GWC, that is thing astir lovers of shot tin get connected committee with. More goals please, guys.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
Join Sarah Rendell for unrecorded updates from Portugal 1-0 Uzbekistan (1pm EDT/ 6pm BST), earlier Rob Smyth guides you done England 3-1 Ghana (4pm EDT/9pm BST). Later, Jeff Rueter is successful nan basking spot for Panama 0-2 Croatia (7pm EDT/midnight BST), and we wrap up different large GWC time pinch Martin Pegan connected work for Colombia 2-2 DR Congo (10pm EDT/3am BST).
RECOMMENDED BUYING
We person immoderate Football Weekly Live events coming, folks. If you want to spot Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning and different top, apical pod squad members successful nan flesh, you tin do truthful successful Dublin connected 1 September aliases successful that location London connected 9 September. And connected 16 July, Football Weekly: Live successful New York City is sold out, but livestream tickets are still available.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We consciousness very honoured to beryllium present pinch nan president, it is an honour for us to guidelines earlier you and for nan full world to spot nan beautiful broadside of Mexico” – yes, it nan magic of nan GWC, arsenic Karla Gómez, proprietor of viral sensation Merlin nan duck, and her family meet nan Mexican president. “He has been a awesome of nan [GWC], a awesome of what Mexican families guidelines for, of who we are arsenic Mexican families, and that is supra each else, what nan world is seeing from Mexico,” shouted Claudia Sheinbaum after gathering Merlin herself.
double quotation markITV’s Sam Matterface connected Egypt scoring against New Zealand: ‘They’ll beryllium celebrating that extremity each nan measurement from Cairo to Giza!’ Coming soon (hopefully): England observe a extremity each nan measurement from London to Heathrow airport” – Keith Razey.
double quotation markMay I besides wade into English v Spanish GWC viewing statement (Football Daily letters passim). I’m Team Telemundo, owing to existing subscriptions and a well-founded antipathy towards Fox Corp. While I can’t understand a thing, I was delighted to spot journeyman striker Roque Santa Cruz acting arsenic a pundit nan different night. It besides sewage maine intrigued to cognize balanced figures successful each language’s coverage: I’d emotion to cognize from our Spanish-speaking friends if location are Telemundo Roy Keanes, Mark Chapmans, Kelly Cates, Ian Wrights, Andy Townsends aliases (shudder) Robbie Savages retired there. ¡Te deseo lo mejor! “ – Martin Clifford.
double quotation markAs a Spurs instrumentality I americium keener than ever for nan GWC to beryllium complete and nan caller play of nan Premier League to commence. However, if you telephone up nan array for nan 2026-27 season, it is listed successful alphabetical bid and by this sorting method, Tottenham already beryllium bottom. I ne'er thought that I would find a logic to regret West Ham being relegated” – Greg Wynn.
double quotation markI fearfulness James Vortkamp-Tong’s missive (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) is simply a acquainted rotation connected an email seen present galore moons ago. Possibly astir Watford. However, for illustration Dad’s Army repeats, it is admittedly much amusing than newer material. Can’t hit nan classics” – Andrew Taylor.
If you person any, please nonstop letters to [email protected]. Today’s prizeless missive o’ nan time is … Keith Razey. Terms and conditions for our competitions, erstwhile we tally them, are here.
RECOMMENDED LOOKING
It’s David Squires connected … the large names putting connected a show astatine nan GWC.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
Get your ears astir nan latest World Cup Daily podcast arsenic Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning, Alexander Abnos and Mark Langdon effort to conjure caller superlatives for Lionel Messi.
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