Kylian Mbappé writes the script for World Cup history as the first player to win back-to-back Golden Boots

France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) reacts to his shot attempt during the World Cup third-place soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Kylian Mbappé made FIFA World Cup history by becoming the first ever player to win the Golden Boot at two consecutive tournaments after finishing as the top scorer at the 2026 edition, edging out Lionel Messi in one of the closest races the competition has seen.The France captain finished with 10 goals in eight games and also added four assists to win the tournament’s top scorer award. His nearest rival, Argentina captain Lionel Messi, finished the World Cup with eight goals and four assists after failing to find the net in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final.Messi entered the showpiece knowing he needed a hat-trick to overtake Mbappé after the Frenchman struck twice in France’s dramatic 6-4 defeat of England in the third-place play-off on Saturday. Instead, Spain’s disciplined midfield, led by Ballon d’Or winner Rodrigo, kept the Argentina captain calm as La Roja lifted their second World Cup title.

Mbappé’s bronze medal game changed the race

The Golden Boot race seemed destined to go to the final after Messi briefly stepped forward following Argentina’s semi-final victory over England.Although both stars were level on eight goals at that stage, Messi’s four assists put him ahead of Mbappé, who had three under FIFA tiebreak rules.Everything changed in the playoff for third place.France trailed England 4-0 at half-time before Mbappé sparked an unlikely comeback, scoring in the 48th and 66th minutes to take his tournament tally to 10 goals. The two strikes not only moved him ahead of Messi in the goalscoring charts, but also surpassed the Argentinian as the all-time top scorer at the Men’s World Cup with 22 career goals.England eventually won the extraordinary match 6-4, but Mbappé’s individual achievements ensured he headed into the final day of the tournament in pole position for another Golden Boot.

Messi failed to put in the last charge

All eyes then turned to the World Cup final at New York’s New Jersey Stadium.Argentina needed inspiration from Messi against a Spain side who have conceded just once throughout the tournament, but Luis de la Fuente’s men produced one of the most complete defensive performances of the competition.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) cries at the end of the World Cup soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Rodri dominated midfield as Spain restricted Argentina to no shots on goal during regular time. Messi struggled to influence the game and finished the game without adding to his goal or assist.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 reinforced Mbappé’s extraordinary record on football’s biggest stage.After winning the Qatar 2022 Golden Boot with eight goals, the Real Madrid striker returned four years later to score another 10, becoming the first player to win the award at consecutive 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 France’s Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals in 1958, and Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis, who netted 11 in 1954, have managed more goals in a single World Cup tournament.In the 2018, 2022 and 2026 editions, Mbappé has now scored 22 goals in just 22 games at the World Cup, overtaking Messi to become the competition’s all-time top goalscorer for men.Other players featured prominently in the race for the Golden Boot, including England’s Harry Kane, who scored six goals, as well as Jude Bellingham and Nor Erling Haaland, who both finished with seven goals, all top scorers during the tournament.

Final individual honors

While Mbappé collected the Golden Boot, Spain dominated the remaining individual awards after lifting the trophy.Rodri was named the adidas Ballon d’Or winner after dominating 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 best player of the tournament ahead of Messi, Mbappé and England’s Jude Bellingham.Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón won the Golden Glove after conceding just one goal in eight games and keeping seven clean sheets during La Roja’s winning campaign.Although Messi fell short of 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 remained one of the best in the competition. The Argentina captain was directly involved in 12 goals with eight strikes and four assists to lead the defending champions to their second straight World Cup final.This time, however, the tournament belonged to Mbappé.With a record 10-goal haul, another Golden Boot and a solitary position as the all-time World Cup scoring leader, the France captain underlined again why he remains one of the defining players of his generation.