Mbappe claims second Golden Boot, breaks World Cup goal record as Spain triumph

French superstar Kylian Mbappé officially claimed his second consecutive FIFA World Cup Golden Boot award after European champions Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday.

Mbappé etched his name into FIFA World Cup history by becoming the tournament's all-time leading scorer, despite France's 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place play-off on Saturday.

The Real Madrid striker scored twice in that high-scoring encounter to take his career World Cup tally to 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi's previous record of 21. His double also lifted his 2026 tournament tally to 10 goals, securing the Golden Boot ahead of Sunday's final in New Jersey, where substitute Ferran Torres scored a 106th-minute winner to seal Spain's second world title over 10-man Argentina.

Despite Mbappé's historic milestone, France finished the tournament without a medal as England claimed third place following a dramatic clash at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The match became one of the tournament's biggest spectacles, with England's 6-4 victory setting a new record as the highest-scoring World Cup third-place play-off in history. The Three Lions stormed into an early lead through Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Bukayo Saka, leaving France with a mountain to climb.

Les Bleus fought back bravely, with Mbappé scoring twice to keep his side in contention. However, England refused to ease off, with Saka completing his hat-trick before Jude Bellingham sealed the win late on to secure third place.

Although France fell short of a podium finish, Mbappé stole the spotlight by breaking one of football's most prestigious records, overtaking Messi to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer.

"Records are special, but winning trophies is what matters most," Mbappé said after the match.

The French captain reached the milestone across three World Cup tournaments. He scored four goals during France's victorious 2018 campaign in Russia, followed with eight at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Les Bleus finished runners-up, and added 10 more during the 2026 tournament.

At just 27, Mbappé has already established himself as the competition's most prolific scorer, with every chance of extending the record in future World Cups.

His achievement quickly sparked celebration across social media, with football fans hailing his consistency and goalscoring brilliance on the world's biggest stage.