Mbappé First Player to Win World Cup Golden Boot Twice
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- Mbappé became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot at two different tournaments (2022 and 2026), retaining the award after Messi failed to score in Sunday's final against Spain.
- Mbappé finished the 2026 tournament with 10 goals, two clear of Messi's 8, with Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham tied on 7 and Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé on 6.
- Mbappé struck twice in France's wild 6-4 third-place playoff win over England on Saturday, rallying from 4-0 down at halftime to claim the scoring title.
- Mbappé scored twice in the 3-1 opening win over Senegal, twice in a 3-0 win vs Iraq, twice vs Sweden in the round of 32, a penalty vs Paraguay in the round of 16, and once vs Morocco in the quarterfinals before going goalless in the 2-0 semifinal loss to Spain.
- Spain swept the remaining individual awards after their extra-time win over Argentina: Rodri was named Player of the Tournament, Pau Cubarsí Young Player, and Unai Simón took the Golden Glove after conceding just one goal in seven matches.
- Ferrán Torres scored the extra-time goal that sealed Spain's second World Cup title against Argentina on Sunday.
Why it matters: Mbappé's repeat Golden Boot cements his individual scoring pedigree at age 27, even as France finished third. The broader tournament belonged to Spain, who took the trophy plus three of the four individual awards — Rodri as Player of the Tournament, Cubarsí as Young Player, and Simón as Golden Glove after conceding just one goal in seven matches — with Torres's extra-time strike delivering the title.
