Mbappe wins second Golden Boot as Messi draws blank in World Cup final
Kylian Mbappe cemented his place among football's greatest players after becoming the first footballer to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot twice. The France striker finished the 2026 tournament with 10 goals, while Spain swept the remaining individual awards following their World Cup triumph over Argentina.
The Real Madrid forward sealed the Golden Boot race on Saturday after scoring twice in France's dramatic 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place play-off. His tally left Lionel Messi needing a hat-trick in Sunday's final, but the Argentina captain failed to score as Spain secured a 1-0 extra-time victory.
Mbappe makes more World Cup history
Mbappe's 10-goal haul came across eight matches and saw him finish two goals clear of Messi, who ended the tournament with eight. He also became the first player since West Germany's Gerd Muller in 1970 to reach double figures at a single World Cup.
The 27-year-old added another landmark by becoming the men's all-time leading World Cup scorer with 22 career goals. He moved one clear of Messi's previous record of 21 after scoring twice against England.
Mbappe's goals came throughout the tournament. He struck twice against Senegal and Iraq in the group stage, added two against Sweden in the Round of 32, scored the winner from the penalty spot against Paraguay, netted once against Morocco in the quarter-finals and finished with another brace in the bronze medal match.
Messi falls short in final appearance
Messi entered the final still in contention for the Golden Boot after scoring eight goals during Argentina's run to the championship match. However, Spain's disciplined defence kept the 39-year-old quiet throughout the contest.
Argentina's captain finished the tournament without a goal in the quarter-finals, semi-finals or final. His goalless outing against Spain confirmed Mbappe as the Golden Boot winner for a second consecutive World Cup after also claiming the prize in Qatar in 2022.
Despite missing out on the scoring award, Messi still achieved a notable milestone by becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches earlier in the tournament.
Tournament awards
Spain dominated the individual honours after lifting their second World Cup title. Captain Rodri received the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player following another outstanding campaign in midfield. Goalkeeper Unai Simon collected the Golden Glove after conceding just one goal in seven matches, while teenage defender Pau Cubarsi was named Young Player of the Tournament.
Match and tournament statistics
Mbappe finished first in the scoring charts with 10 goals, ahead of Messi on eight. Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland shared third place with seven goals each, while Ousmane Dembele and Harry Kane both scored six. Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal finished with five goals. The 2026 World Cup also produced a record 308 goals across 104 matches, averaging 2.9 goals per game following the expansion to 48 teams.
Standout performers
Although France finished fourth, Mbappe's individual displays ensured he left the United States, Canada and Mexico with another piece of history. Spain, meanwhile, combined team success with individual excellence as Rodri, Simon and Cubarsi all earned FIFA awards after guiding La Roja to World Cup glory.
What's next?
International attention now turns towards the upcoming qualification campaigns for continental tournaments, with Spain aiming to build on their World Cup and Euro 2024 success. France and Argentina will also begin preparations for the next international cycle after narrowly missing out on football's biggest prize.