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Kylian Mbappé did it FIFA World Cup history by becoming the first player ever to win the Golden Boot in two consecutive tournaments after finishing as the top scorer at the 2026 edition. Lionel Messi competition was seen in one of the closest races.The France captain finished with 10 goals in eight games, along with four assists, winning the tournament’s top scorer award. His closest companion, Argentina captain Lionel Messi, finished the World Cup with eight goals and four assists after failing to find the back of the net in Sunday’s 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the final.Messi went into the game knowing he needed a hat-trick to overtake Mbappé after the Frenchman struck twice in France’s dramatic 6-4 defeat by England in Saturday’s third-place play-off. Instead, a disciplined Spanish midfield, led by Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, kept the Argentine captain quiet as La Roja claimed their second World Cup title.
Mbappé’s bronze medal game changed the race
The race for the Golden Boot looked set to go all the way to the finals after Messi made a brief breakthrough following Argentina’s semi-final win over England.Although both stars were tied on eight goals at that stage, Messi’s four assists put him ahead of Mbappé, who had three, under FIFA’s tiebreak rules.Everything changed in the third place playoff.France trailed England 4-0 at half-time before Mbappé sparked an incredible comeback, scoring in the 48th and 66th minutes to take his tournament tally to 10 goals. Those two strikes not only moved him ahead of Messi on the goalscoring charts, but also surpassed the Argentinian as the World Cup’s all-time top scorer with 22 career goals.England eventually won the extraordinary contest 6-4, but Mbappé’s individual achievements ensured he left pole position for another Golden Boot on the final day of the tournament.
Messi can’t make the last attack
All eyes were then on the World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium.Argentina needed inspiration from Messi against a Spain side that had conceded just one goal during the tournament, but Luis de la Fuente’s men produced one of the most complete defensive performances in the competition.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) cries at the end of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Rodri dominated the midfield as Spain limited Argentina to no shots on goal during regular time. Messi struggled to influence proceedings and finished the game without adding to his tally of goals or assists.Spain eventually secured a 1-0 victory after extra time to end Argentina’s reign as world champions.The result also confirmed Mbappé as the winner of the Golden Boot, with Messi finishing second after another outstanding World Cup campaign that produced eight goals and four assists.
Another chapter in Mbappé’s remarkable World Cup career
The award further strengthened Mbappé’s remarkable record on football’s biggest stage.After winning the Golden Boot in Qatar 2022 with eight goals, the Real Madrid forward returned four years later to score 10 more, becoming the first player to win the honor at back-to-back World Cups.His tally also made him the first player to reach double figures in a single World Cup since German legend Gerd Müller scored 10 goals in 1970.Only Frenchman Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals in 1958, and Hungarian Sándor Kocsis, who scored 11 in 1954, managed to score more goals in one World Cup.Across the 2018, 2022 and 2026 editions, Mbappé has now scored 22 World Cup goals in just 22 appearances, overtaking Messi to become the competition’s all-time top scorer.Other players also featured prominently in the Golden Boot race, including England’s Harry Kane, who scored six goals, as well as Jude Bellingham and Norway’s Erling Haaland, who both finished with seven goals each, all among the tournament’s leading scorers.
Final individual awards
While Mbappé won the Golden Boot, Spain dominated the remaining individual awards after lifting the trophy.Rodri was named the Adidas Ballon d’Or winner after controlling Spain’s midfield throughout the tournament, culminating in a masterful performance in the final. The Manchester City midfielder finished the competition with a World Cup record 694 completed passes and was named the tournament’s best player ahead of Messi, Mbappé and England’s Jude Bellingham.Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón won the Golden Glove after conceding just one goal in eight games and keeping seven clean sheets during La Roja’s title-winning campaign.Although Messi was left without the World Cup trophy and the Golden Boot in what could turn out to be his final appearance at football’s biggest tournament, his campaign remains one of the best in the competition. The Argentina captain directly contributed 12 goals through eight goals and four assists as he led the defending champions to a second straight World Cup final.However, this time the tournament went to Mbappé.With a record-breaking 10-goal campaign, another Golden Boot and sole possession of the top scorer at the World Cup, the French captain has once again underlined why he remains one of the key players of his generation.
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