Mbappé lands World Cup Golden Boot as Spain sweep awards
ESPN reported Kylian Mbappé finished the 2026 World Cup as top scorer with 10 goals, ahead of Lionel Messi on eight.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
2 min read
Kylian Mbappé finished the 2026 World Cup with the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals, ESPN reported, sealing the scoring prize when Lionel Messi did not score for Argentina in Sunday’s final against Spain.
The France forward entered the final day of the tournament two goals clear of Messi, who ended on eight. ESPN reported that Mbappé stretched his total by scoring twice in France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff.
Spain beat Argentina after extra time in the final, according to ESPN’s match listing, with Ferran Torres scoring the goal that secured Spain’s second World Cup. The result also left Messi without the goal he needed to push the Golden Boot race to the wire.
Mbappé’s road to 10
ESPN reported that Mbappé started fast, scoring twice in France’s opening 3-1 win over Senegal. He then added two more in a 3-0 victory against Iraq.
He was kept off the scoresheet in France’s 4-1 win over Norway, ESPN reported, but returned with two goals in a 3-0 round-of-32 win against Sweden.
In the knockout rounds, Mbappé converted a penalty for the only goal against Paraguay in the round of 16. ESPN reported he then scored once in a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco.
France’s run ended one step before the final, with ESPN reporting a 2-0 semifinal defeat to Spain. Mbappé still had one more scoring burst left, finding the net twice against England in the third-place match after France had trailed 4-0 at halftime.
The chasing pack
Mbappé’s 10 goals put him ahead of Argentina’s Messi, who finished with eight, according to ESPN. Norway striker Erling Haaland and England midfielder Jude Bellingham both ended the tournament on seven.
England captain Harry Kane and France teammate Ousmane Dembélé finished on six goals each, ESPN reported.
The win gave Mbappé back-to-back Golden Boots. ESPN reported that he also claimed the award four years earlier after scoring a hat trick in the final against Argentina, a performance that took him past Messi in that tournament’s scoring race.
Spain collect the hardware
Spain’s World Cup win came with a sweep of individual honors, according to ESPN. Rodri was named Player of the Tournament, while Pau Cubarsí received the Young Player of the Tournament award.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón won the Golden Glove, ESPN reported, after conceding one goal across seven matches. Torres’ extra-time winner gave Spain the trophy and capped a final day that belonged to the new champions on the podium, even as Mbappé walked away with the tournament’s scoring crown.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.