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Messi bids emotional farewell to World Cup stage as Mbappé claims Golden Boot and all-time scoring record
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Sports

Messi bids emotional farewell to World Cup stage as Mbappé claims Golden Boot and all-time scoring record

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Lionel Messi, 39, has likely played his last World Cup match, leaving the tournament stage with tears in his eyes.
  • Kylian Mbappé, with a brace in the third-place match, secured the FIFA 2026 Golden Boot and became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history.
  • Messi concluded the tournament with 8 goals and 4 assists, but did not achieve the top scorer title.

The 2026 World Cup stage has likely seen the final appearance of Argentine football icon Lionel Messi. At 39 years old, Messi was visibly emotional, with cameras capturing tears as he departed the tournament, a scene that suggests the end of his World Cup journey.

While Messi's era on the world stage may be concluding, a new record has been set by Kylian Mbappé. In the match for third place, Mbappé scored two goals, earning him the FIFA 2026 Golden Boot award. More significantly, these goals propelled him past Messi to become the all-time leading scorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup.

Messi finished the tournament with an impressive record of 8 goals and 4 assists. Despite his significant contributions, he did not secure the top scorer title for this edition, with Mbappé's performance in the final matches proving decisive. The tournament marks a significant moment, signifying a potential transition in football's global hierarchy.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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