France’s Kylian Mbappe has made FIFA World Cup history by becoming the first player ever to win two Golden Boot awards after finishing as the tournament’s top scorer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Although France ended their campaign with a third place finish, Mbappe’s outstanding performances secured another remarkable milestone in his already legendary career.
The 27 year old forward finished the tournament with 10 goals, including a brilliant two goal performance in France’s 6 to 4 victory over England in the third place playoff. His closest rival for the Golden Boot was Lionel Messi, but the Argentine captain failed to score in the World Cup final as Spain defeated Argentina 1 to 0 after extra time to lift the trophy.
With his latest achievements, Mbappe has strengthened his reputation as one of football’s greatest players. His two goals against England also took his World Cup career tally to 22 goals in just 22 matches, surpassing Lionel Messi’s 21 goals to become the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. Earlier in the tournament, Messi had briefly moved ahead of Miroslav Klose’s long standing record before Mbappe reclaimed the top spot.
Mbappe’s scoring consistency throughout the tournament was remarkable. Eight of his ten goals came in four separate braces against Iraq, Senegal, Sweden, and England. He also became the first player since Gerd Muller in 1970 to score 10 goals in a single FIFA World Cup.
Spain’s impressive title winning campaign also earned several individual honours. Midfielder Rodri received the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player after dominating midfield throughout the competition. Goalkeeper Unai Simon won the Golden Glove after keeping seven clean sheets, while young defender Pau Cubarsi claimed the FIFA Best Young Player award for his outstanding performances.
The individual awards capped off a memorable World Cup that showcased exceptional talent, with Kylian Mbappe once again proving why he is among the greatest footballers of his generation.
