So, it looks like Messi versus Neymar for the Golden Boot, exactly what the World Cup scriptwriters would have asked for. There were two more for the birthday boy in the 3-2 win against Nigeria to draw him level on four goals at the top of the scorers’ chart with Brazil’s golden child.
Argentina v Bosnia-Herzegovina: Group F - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil In the process Messi, who turned 27 on Tuesday, became the third Argentinian after Gabriel Batistuta and Oreste Corbatta to score in three consecutive World Cup matches, helping steer his country through as Group F winners to a last-16 match against Switzerland.
Runners-up Nigeria, who face France in the next round, took plenty of consolation from the goalscoring feats of youngster Ahmed Musa, who matched Messi with a double of his own. He looks a real handful.
There was a hat-trick for Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri, undoubtedly the architect of their 3-0 win against Honduras in Manaus. “Xherdan Shaqiri is a player who can make the difference because he can decide games on his own,” noted the manager Ottmar Hitzfeld afterwards. Argentina beware.
France went through as Group E winners despite their goalless draw against Ecuador, who were reduced to 10 men after a straight red card for captain Antonio Valencia, of Manchester United.
Bosnia bowed out of their first-ever World Cup with an encouraging 3-1 win against Iran in Salvador, with Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko getting himself on the scoresheet at last.
You Golden Booty . . . the candidates for top scorer at the World Cup
 4 – Neymar (Brazil), Messi (Argentina).
3 – Muller (Germany), Van Persie, Robben (both Holland), Benzema (France), E Valencia (Ecuador), Rodriguez (Colombia), Shaqiri (Switzerland).
2 – Cahill (Australia), Mandzukic (Croatia), Suarez (Uruguay), Gervinho (Ivory Coast), Depay (Holland), Perisic (Croatia), Martinez (Colombia), Dempsey (USA), Bony (Ivory Coast), A Ayew (Ghana), Musa (Nigeria).