Mbappe first to win Golden Boot twice as Rodri named best player

What the report says

BBC Sport reported that Kylian Mbappe has won the Golden Boot at the 2026 men’s World Cup, becoming the first player to take the tournament’s top-scorer award twice. The France forward scored 10 goals in eight matches, following his eight-goal Golden Boot campaign at Qatar 2022. His total put him ahead of Lionel Messi, who finished on eight goals after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the final in New Jersey.

Mbappe’s tournament also moved him to the top of the men’s World Cup all-time scoring list with 22 goals, one more than Messi, according to the BBC. He became the first male player to reach double figures in a single World Cup since Gerd Muller in 1970, with only Just Fontaine and Sandor Kocsis having scored more in one edition. Mbappe’s goals included two in France’s 6-4 bronze-match defeat by England in Miami, as France finished fourth.

Spain, crowned world champions for the second time, dominated the other individual awards. Captain Rodri was named Golden Ball winner as the tournament’s best player after helping Spain beat Argentina in the final at MetLife Stadium. The Manchester City midfielder added the honour to earlier major individual awards, including the Ballon d’Or and Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament.

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon received the Golden Glove after conceding once in eight games, while Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi was named best young player. BBC Sport said Cubarsi played every minute of Spain’s campaign, part of a defence that limited Argentina to two shots and none on target in the final.