Kylian Mbappé Makes History with Golden Boot at 2026 FIFA World Cup
Historic Achievement for Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé has etched his name in football history by winning the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This accolade came after Lionel Messi was unable to score during the final match between Argentina and Spain, held on July 19 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. Mbappé's remarkable performance throughout the tournament included 10 goals and four assists. Prior to the semi-finals, Messi was leading with eight goals and four assists, while Mbappé had netted four goals and provided three assists. However, in the third-place playoff against England, Mbappé scored twice and assisted another goal, despite France losing 4-6.
Mbappé's Unprecedented Golden Boot Win
At just 27 years old, Mbappé has become the first player in the 96-year history of the World Cup to win the Golden Boot twice. He previously secured the award in 2022, where he scored a hat trick in the final against Argentina, finishing with three goals in that match. In the last tournament, Messi was the runner-up with seven goals. In a similar fashion, Messi was leading the goal tally before the final in Qatar, but Mbappé outperformed him by scoring three goals in that match, while Messi managed two, resulting in a thrilling 3-3 draw before Argentina triumphed in the penalty shootout.
All-Time Golden Boot Winners
Mbappé is also the first player in 56 years to score 10 or more goals in a single World Cup tournament, marking only the fourth time in history that a player has achieved double-digit goals in one edition.
Top Goal Scorers in a Single World Cup Edition
| Player | Country | Year | Goals |
| Just Fontaine | France | 1958 | 13 |
| Sándor Kocsis | Hungary | 1954 | 11 |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 2026 | 10 |
| Gerd Muller | West Germany | 1970 | 10 |
With this achievement, Mbappé has now scored a total of 22 goals in World Cup history, surpassing Messi's tally of 21. Given that he will only be 31 in 2030, he has a great opportunity to extend this record further. In the 2018 World Cup, he scored four goals, contributing to France's victory. Following his performances in the last two tournaments, where France finished as runners-up and semi-finalists, respectively, Mbappé also received the bronze ball this time, having previously earned the silver ball. The Golden Ball was awarded to Rodri, while Messi took home the silver ball in this edition after winning the top honor in 2022.