France’s Kylian Mbappe at half time in a match in opposition to England on July 18, 2026. — Reuters
French famous person Kylian Mbappe turned the primary participant to win a number of FIFA World Cup Golden Boot awards after Spain shut out Argentina 1-0 within the last on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Mbappe completed with 10 targets for the match after scoring twice in France’s 6-4 loss to England on Saturday within the third-place match.
His solely competitors nonetheless energetic was Lionel Messi, who was looking for his first Golden Boot whereas additionally attempting to information Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup. Messi and Argentina defeated Mbappe and France on penalties within the 2022 last in Qatar.
However Argentina couldn’t muster a shot on course in opposition to Spain’s stalwart defence and had simply two complete photographs, each coming late within the match. Messi went scoreless for the third match in a row. He had collected eight targets throughout the three group-stage matches, the spherical of 32 and the spherical of 16.
At 27, Mbappe already can name himself the best goalscorer in World Cup historical past. His two second-half targets on Saturday pushed him previous Messi for the all-time match document with 22 in simply 22 matches. Messi — the primary to interrupt German Miroslav Klose’s profession document early within the match earlier than Mbappe caught up — stayed at 21 and should have performed his last World Cup match on Sunday at 39 years outdated.
Eight of Mbappe’s 10 targets this summer time got here in braces. He scored twice in opposition to Iraq, Senegal, Sweden and eventually England. He was the primary participant to attain 10 targets in a single World Cup since Gerd Muller of Germany in 1970.
Apart from Mbappe, it didn’t come as a shock that the remainder of the awards went to Spanish gamers after their exceptional run to the nation’s second World Cup title.
Spain midfielder Rodri collected the Golden Ball award, given to the most effective general participant within the match. Whereas he didn’t document a single aim or help in Spain’s eight matches, he accomplished extra passes, coated extra distance and had extra participant involvements than every other participant on this yr’s match.
He additionally performed a key position in closely limiting Messi’s touches throughout Spain’s 1-0 win.
Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon and defender Pau Cubarsi had been named winners of the Golden Glove award and FIFA Greatest Younger Participant award, respectively. The pair every performed vital roles in La Roja conceding only one aim — a document for a World Cup-winning group — and permitting solely 10 photographs on course in eight matches throughout this World Cup.
Simon completed with seven clear sheets, two greater than the earlier document for a single World Cup. The 29-year-old’s 9 profession World Cup clear sheets are one wanting the document of 10 shared by former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez and former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
These three awards are determined by FIFA’s Technical Examine Group, made up of former skilled gamers, coaches and analysts.
