Kathmandu: France captain Kylian Mbappé has won the Golden Boot as the top scorer of the FIFA World Cup 2026, becoming the first player to claim the prestigious award in consecutive editions after also finishing as the leading scorer at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Despite France's 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff, Mbappé scored twice to finish the tournament with 10 goals and four assists, comfortably securing the Golden Boot.

Messi and Bellingham Complete the Top Three
Argentina captain Lionel Messi finished second in the scoring charts with eight goals and four assists, while England midfielder Jude Bellingham placed third after scoring seven goals and providing one assist.

Mbappé's remarkable consistency throughout the tournament made him the standout attacking player of the competition.

Sets New World Cup Scoring Record
The 27-year-old Real Madrid forward also reached another historic milestone by becoming the all-time leading scorer in FIFA Men's World Cup history, taking his career tally to 22 World Cup goals.

He surpassed Argentina legend Lionel Messi, who ends his World Cup career with 21 goals.

In recognition of his overall performances, Mbappé also received the Bronze Ball, awarded to one of the tournament's outstanding players.

Outstanding Tournament Campaign

Mbappé enjoyed another exceptional World Cup campaign, scoring consistently from the group stage through to the knockout rounds.

He netted twice against Senegal and Iraq during the group stage, added another brace against Sweden in the Round of 16, converted the decisive penalty against Paraguay in the quarter-finals, scored against Morocco in the semi-finals, and finished the tournament with two goals against England in the third-place playoff.

Although France fell short of reaching the final after losing to Spain in the semi-finals, Mbappé's performances were among the highlights of the tournament.

Mbappé: Team Success Comes First
Speaking after receiving the Golden Boot, Mbappé said he would have preferred to help France reach the final rather than collect an individual honour.

"Scoring so many goals at the World Cup is special, but I would rather have played in the final with my team than won the Golden Boot. It will be part of my legacy one day, but that's not what matters most to me right now."

Deschamps Praises His Captain
Outgoing France head coach Didier Deschamps hailed Mbappé as an exceptional footballer and an inspirational leader.

He praised the forward's influence both on and off the pitch, noting that Mbappé has been a cornerstone of the French national team since making his international breakthrough as a teenager.

How the Golden Boot Is Decided
According to FIFA regulations, the Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals during the tournament. If two or more players finish level on goals, the player with more assists is ranked higher. If both goals and assists are equal, the award goes to the player who achieved the tally in fewer minutes played.