Mbappe makes World Cup history as Spain deny Messi in 2026 final

France forward Kylian Mbappe has become the first player ever to win back-to-back World Cup Golden Boots, finishing as top scorer at the 2026 tournament after Lionel Messi failed to score in Argentina’s final defeat to Spain.

Spain were crowned world champions with a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final, thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres, ending Messi’s hopes of forcing his way level with, or past, Mbappe in the scoring charts.

The result means Mbappe, despite France’s exit in the semi-finals to eventual champions Spain, ends the tournament with 10 goals – the highest tally at the 2026 World Cup and an extension of his extraordinary scoring record on football’s biggest stage.

Spanish triumph shuts down Messi’s Golden Boot chase

Messi went into the final needing to score to close the gap on Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot. But Spain’s defence successfully contained the Argentina captain, largely isolating him and limiting his influence throughout the match.

Torres’ decisive strike not only secured Spain the title but also effectively sealed Mbappe’s status as the tournament’s leading marksman.

Messi, who finished with eight goals, ends the competition as runner-up in the scoring standings. England’s Jude Bellingham took third place with seven goals after a standout campaign for his national side.

Mbappe extends World Cup goal record

Mbappe’s 10-goal haul in 2026 follows his Golden Boot performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he scored eight times. He now has 22 World Cup goals in total, making him the all-time leading scorer in the history of the competition.

The 27-year-old is also the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot in two separate editions of the tournament, underlining his status as one of the most prolific and feared forwards in modern football.

Despite France falling short of the final this time, Mbappe’s individual campaign was described as exceptional, with the forward once again at the heart of his country’s attacking play and consistently decisive in front of goal.

Messi shines despite missing out on scoring title

While Messi was denied the top-scorer award, the 39-year-old still played a pivotal role in leading Argentina to the final, delivering strong individual performances and impressive statistics across the tournament.

His influence helped guide the defending champions through the knockout stages, reinforcing his status as one of the game’s greats, even as Spain’s tactical discipline curtailed his impact in the decisive match.

Ultimately, however, the night – and the record books – belonged to Mbappe, who “confirmed once again his place as one of the most dangerous forwards in the world”, maintaining his goalscoring crown until the curtain came down on the 2026 World Cup.