Lionel Messi sits on top on the leaderboard after the group stage. He has a historic new World Cup record for goals in one tournament. He beat all other players in the group games. His tally puts him ahead with a comfortable lead. The lead is undeniable now. He stays firmly ahead of everyone else. Fans monitor the chase with keen interest.
Kylian Mbappé and France’s Ousmane Dembélé follow by a short gap. Dembélé is rising the list. Mbappé is chasing the ultimate World Cup scoring mark. The race will keep going into the knockout round. It could flip quickly.