Kylian Mbappe has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot twice after finishing as the top scorer at the 2026 tournament.
The France forward scored 10 goals in eight matches to beat Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the race for the award.
Mbappe also won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after scoring eight goals, making him the first player to claim the honour at consecutive tournaments.
Mbappe sets new scoring record
The 27-year-old became the first player to score at least 10 goals in a single World Cup since Germany’s Gerd Muller in 1970.
Only France’s Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals in 1958, and Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis, who netted 11 in 1954, have managed more goals in a single World Cup.
Mbappe also became the leading scorer in men’s World Cup history with 22 goals, moving one ahead of Messi.
He scored twice in France’s third-place play-off against England but could not prevent a 6-4 defeat.
“When you score that many goals in the World Cup, it certainly takes you to a whole new level,” Mbappe said.
“But I would have preferred not to be the top scorer and to have played in the final. It’s good for my legacy once I’ve retired, but right now, that’s not what’s on my mind.”
Messi finished the tournament with eight goals after failing to score in Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final.
England’s Jude Bellingham and Norway’s Erling Haaland each scored seven goals, while France’s Ousmane Dembele and England captain Harry Kane finished with six.
Rodri named tournament’s best player
Spain captain Rodri capped his country’s World Cup triumph by winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
The Manchester City midfielder received the award from FIFA President Gianni Infantino after Spain defeated Argentina in the final.
The honour adds to Rodri’s growing list of individual awards, which includes the 2023 Ballon d’Or and UEFA Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament.
Messi received the Silver Ball as the tournament’s second-best player, while Mbappe was awarded the Bronze Ball.
Spain dominate individual awards
Spain also claimed several other major individual honours after winning their second men’s World Cup title.
Goalkeeper Unai Simon won the Golden Glove after conceding just one goal in eight matches and keeping seven clean sheets during the tournament.
Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi was named Best Young Player after an outstanding campaign.
The 19-year-old played every minute of Spain’s World Cup campaign and helped the champions concede only one goal throughout the tournament.
Cubarsi also played a key role in the final, where Spain restricted Argentina to just two shots and none on target as they secured a 1-0 victory.
