https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lionel-Messi
The Guardian Football reported that Jairzinho and Lionel Messi are the players who have scored the most goals at a World Cup without winning the Golden Boot. This claim, however, misrepresents both players’ achievements. Jairzinho, the legendary Brazilian forward, won the Golden Boot in 1970 with seven goals. Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar, was the top scorer in the 2022 World Cup with 16 goals overall, though he lost the Golden Boot to Kylian Mbappé in that tournament. Despite these inaccuracies, the discussion around Messi’s scoring feats could influence market perceptions related to his performance in the current 2026 World Cup.
Markets are closely observing Lionel Messi’s performance in the ongoing World Cup. Currently, the market pricing on whether Messi will be the top goalscorer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup stands at 45.6% for a YES outcome. This is slightly lower than the previous day’s 53% but higher than a week ago when it was 38%. The pricing reflects fluctuating confidence in Messi’s ability to secure the Golden Boot, possibly influenced by recent scoring performances and the incorrect media portrayal of his past World Cup achievements.
