Kylian Mbappé may not have lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy with France, but the 27-year-old still walked away from the 2026 tournament with a place in football history. By winning the adidas Golden Boot with 10 goals, Mbappé became the first player ever to claim the award twice, having previously won it at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The milestone came after a dramatic tournament that ended with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19/20, 2026. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, while Lionel Messi finished the final goalless, leaving him second in the Golden Boot race with eight goals.
That same final delivered its own share of headlines beyond the scoreline, including an unusual trophy ceremony moment. To know more, read our article Donald Trump Stayed for Spain’s 2026 World Cup Trophy Lift—Why the Celebration Turned Into the Night’s Biggest Talking Point.
Mbappé’s historic Golden Boot run reshaped the FIFA World Cup 2026 record books
France’s campaign ended in disappointment after a 2-0 semifinal defeat to Spain, before Les Bleus suffered a thrilling 6-4 loss to England in the third-place playoff on July 18/19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Despite France finishing fourth, Mbappé delivered one final statement by scoring twice and providing an assist after France had trailed 4-0 at halftime.
His 10-goal tournament featured braces against Senegal in a 3-1 group-stage win, Iraq in another 3-0 group-stage victory, and Sweden in the round of 32, also won 3-0. He added a penalty against Paraguay in the round of 16, scored once against Morocco in the quarterfinals during a 2-0 victory, and finished with two goals in the third-place match. The only group-stage match in which he failed to score was France’s 4-1 win over Norway.
Elsewhere in the tournament, comments from the U.S. president about a different team’s tactics also generated plenty of discussion. Here’s what he said: Donald Trump Questions Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup Tactics After England’s Heartbreaking Argentina Defeat — His Harry Kane Remark Sparks Fresh Debate.
Alongside his 10 goals, Mbappé also registered four assists. His tally made him the first player since Gerd Müller scored 10 goals in 1970 to reach double digits in a single World Cup. It also lifted his career World Cup total to 22 goals—2018 (4), 2022 (8), and 2026 (10)—surpassing Lionel Messi’s previous all-time World Cup record of 21 goals.
Lionel Messi misses elusive Golden Boot as Spain dominate the biggest stage
Messi finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists after entering the final weekend among the leading scorers. However, Argentina struggled to create chances against Spain, managing minimal shots and none on target for much of the match, while Messi was largely neutralized. Earlier in the tournament, he had produced standout performances, including a hat-trick against Algeria.
That performance was part of a record-setting run for Messi across the tournament as a whole. Take a look at our coverage: Lionel Messi Makes History with Record Sixth World Cup Appearance.
Spain’s victory secured the nation’s second FIFA World Cup title, their first since 2010, while Argentina failed to defend the crown they won in 2022 and missed the chance to become the first back-to-back world champions since Brazil in 1962.
The final became even more difficult for Argentina after they were reduced to 10 men late in the match. Ferran Torres finally broke the deadlock early in the second period of extra time, sealing a historic Spanish triumph.
At 39, Messi appeared in a record third World Cup final and sixth World Cup overall. He was seen in tears during the trophy ceremony in what was widely viewed as his likely farewell appearance on football’s biggest stage.
Argentina’s tournament also included a separate flashpoint earlier on, when a controversial on-field moment drew wide attention. Find out more in our piece Argentina’s Falklands Banner After Beating England: Could FIFA Punish the World Cup Finalists Before the 2026 Final?.
| Award/Event | Winner/Details |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 Champions | Spain |
| Final Score | Spain 1-0 Argentina (AET) |
| Winning Goal | Ferran Torres (106th minute) |
| adidas Golden Boot | Kylian Mbappé (France) – 10 goals |
| Runner-up Golden Boot | Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8 goals |
| Golden Ball | Rodri (Spain) |
| Golden Glove | Unai Simón (Spain) |
| Best Young Player | Pau Cubarsí (Spain) |
Mbappé’s individual achievement stood out despite France missing both the final and the podium, with England claiming third place. The French forward acknowledged after the tournament that he would have preferred team success over individual honours.
According to verified reporting from ESPN, and other major outlets, Mbappé’s record-breaking Golden Boot victory and Spain’s title-winning campaign closed the curtain on one of the most memorable World Cups in recent history. While Messi ended the tournament with impressive numbers, the one major World Cup individual award that had always eluded him remained out of reach, as the tournament ultimately became a symbolic passing of the torch, with Mbappé overtaking the Argentine legend in the all-time World Cup scoring list.
Messi’s tournament also included at least one on-field incident that stirred significant debate over how it was officiated. To know more, read our article Lionel Messi Avoids Red Card After Brutal Challenge — Video Sparks Massive Controversy.
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