Kylian Mbappe made FIFA World Cup history on Sunday after becoming the first player to win the tournament’s Golden Boot twice, finishing as the top scorer at the 2026 World Cup with 10 goals.
The France captain claimed the award after scoring 10 times in eight matches, edging Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who finished with eight goals.
Mbappe had also won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with eight goals, making him the first player to finish as the tournament’s leading scorer at consecutive editions.
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The 27-year-old Real Madrid forward also became the first player to score 10 goals at a single men’s World Cup since West Germany’s Gerd Müller netted 10 at the 1970 tournament.
Only France’s Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals in 1958, and Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis, who registered 11 in 1954, have managed more goals in a single men’s World Cup.
Mbappe also strengthened his position as the highest scorer in men’s World Cup history, taking his overall tally to 22 goals, one more than Messi.
He moved ahead of the Argentine after scoring twice in France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place play-off, although Les Bleus finished the tournament in fourth place.
The French forward’s goals came against Senegal and Iraq in the group stage, Sweden in the Round of 32, Paraguay in the Round of 16, Morocco in the quarter-finals, England in the third-place play-off and twice against France’s other opponents during the knockout rounds.
Messi entered Sunday’s final with a chance to overtake Mbappe but failed to score as Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham and Norway striker Erling Haaland finished joint third in the scoring charts with seven goals each, while France forward Ousmane Dembélé and England captain Harry Kane scored six goals apiece during the tournament.
