French striker Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) has claimed the Golden Boot for a second consecutive tournament, following the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Mbappe's top scorer title was confirmed after his rival, Argentina's Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), was held scoreless in the final. Mbappe is the first player in World Cup history to win the top scorer title in two consecutive tournaments.
Messi played all 120 minutes, including extra time, in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain held at New York's New Jersey Stadium on the 20th (Korean time), but failed to score.
Messi, who had recorded 8 goals (4 assists) through the semifinals, could have surpassed Mbappe (10 goals, 4 assists) by scoring three or more goals in the final, or by recording two goals and one assist. Mbappe had exploded for two goals in the third-place match held the previous day. But Messi ultimately failed to break through Spain's suffocating defense, and the Golden Boot went to Mbappe. The World Cup top scorer is determined by goals, assists, and playing time in that order.
Mbappe, who had also won the top scorer title at the 2022 Qatar tournament (8 goals, 2 assists), became the first player in World Cup history to achieve the feat of winning consecutive Golden Boots. Along with the top scorer title, Mbappe also received the Bronze Ball, awarded to an outstanding player of the tournament.
Mbappe rewrote World Cup history at this tournament. He poured in a total of 10 goals, becoming the first player to record double-digit goals in a World Cup finals in 56 years, since Gerd Muller (Germany, 10 goals) at the 1970 Mexico tournament. In addition, he accumulated a total of 14 attacking points (10 goals, 4 assists), setting a new record for the most attacking points in a single tournament. The previous record for the most attacking points in a single World Cup was 13, held by Muller and Just Fontaine (France).
Mbappe also broke his personal career World Cup scoring record at this tournament. Having scored 12 goals in his previous two World Cups (4 goals at the Russia tournament and 8 goals at the Qatar tournament), Mbappe added 10 goals at this tournament to reach 22, surpassing Messi (21 goals) to take sole first place in career World Cup scoring. Messi scored 21 goals across 33 matches in six World Cups, but Mbappe surpassed him in just three tournaments and 22 matches. It is a fearsome pace of one goal per game.
Born in 1998 and 28 years old this year, Mbappe is likely to compete in one or more World Cups going forward, making it highly probable that he will surpass his own record several times.
