Mbappe wins 2026 World Cup Golden Boot, becomes all-time top scorer

Kylian Mbappe has cemented his status as a global football star by winning the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot. He also made history as the tournament's all-time leading scorer.

The French captain finished the North American tournament with 10 goals, surpassing Argentina's Lionel Messi, who scored eight. Mbappe successfully defended the Golden Boot he also won at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where France finished as runners-up.

This latest achievement is coupled with another remarkable feat: the Real Madrid forward broke the all-time World Cup scoring record. Two goals in France's 6-4 loss to England in the third-place playoff brought his total to 22 goals across three World Cup appearances, exceeding Messi's career total of 21.

Remarkably, Mbappe achieved this at just 27 years old, still at the peak of his career, with the potential to break his own record in future editions. Since his World Cup debut in 2018, Mbappe has been central to France's success, leading them to a World Cup title, a final appearance in 2022, and fourth place in 2026. His consistent performance on the biggest stage marks him as one of modern football's most influential players, seen as the heir to the Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era.