(LAST UPDATE: 04.06 a.m.)

July.20 (Mirror Sports) - Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot twice after finishing as the tournament's top scorer at the 2026 World Cup.

The France forward scored 10 goals in eight matches to edge out Lionel Messi in a thrilling race for the award.

Mbappé previously won the Golden Boot at Qatar 2022 after scoring eight goals, making him the first player to claim the prize at back-to-back World Cups.

The 27-year-old also became the first player to score 10 goals in a single World Cup since West Germany's Gerd Müller in 1970.

Only France's Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals in 1958, and Hungary's Sándor Kocsis, who scored 11 in 1954, have scored more goals in a single World Cup tournament.

Mbappé is also the men's World Cup all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, one ahead of Messi.

He moved clear of the Argentine with two goals in France's 6-4 defeat by England in Saturday's third-place play-off, although the result left France in fourth place.

Mbappé also scored twice against Senegal and Iraq in the group stage before finding the net against Sweden in the last 32.

He then scored against Paraguay in the last 16, including the 70th-minute winner from the penalty spot, and against Morocco in the quarter-finals.

Messi could have overtaken Mbappé with a hat-trick in Sunday's World Cup final, but the 39-year-old failed to score as Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in New Jersey.

Messi finished the tournament with eight goals in eight matches.

England's Jude Bellingham and Norway's Erling Haaland scored seven goals each, while France's Ousmane Dembélé and England captain Harry Kane finished with six.

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July.19 (Mirror Sports) -

Kylian Mbappé is two goals clear of Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race — but the Argentine has one final chance to snatch the prize in the World Cup final against Spain.

A Golden Boot race for the ages is heading for a perfect finale.

Mbappé's two goals in France's extraordinary 6-4 defeat by England in the third-place play-off took him to 10 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and two clear of Messi.

But the 39-year-old Argentina captain still has one match left.

And if Messi scores twice against Spain in Monday's final, he will win the Golden Boot on the tiebreaker of assists.

Anything less, and Mbappé, 27, will become the first player to win the World Cup's Golden Boot twice.

The battle between the two superstars is also being played out in the race to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer.

Mbappé now leads that contest with 22 goals, while Messi is one behind on 21.

Mbappé's double against England also took him to 10 goals in this tournament — the most scored by any player in a single edition of the men's World Cup this century.

The last player to reach double figures at a men's World Cup was West Germany's Gerd Müller, who scored 10 goals in 1970.

The achievement becomes even more remarkable when placed in historical context.

Before the 2026 tournament, only eight players had scored eight or more goals at a single men's World Cup: Müller, Just Fontaine, Sándor Kocsis, Ademir, Eusébio, Guillermo Stábile, Ronaldo and Mbappé.

Now, Mbappé has joined the elite 10-goal club.

The 2026 World Cup has been a tournament for the game's biggest stars.

England talisman Jude Bellingham moved into third place in the Golden Boot standings with seven goals after scoring against France — the most by an English player at a single World Cup.

Bellingham edged ahead of Norway striker Erling Haaland on assists, while England captain Harry Kane and France forward Ousmane Dembélé are one goal further back on six.

But with one match still to play, the Golden Boot belongs to Mbappé for now.

And Messi has 90 minutes — and perhaps a little more — to change that.

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July.06 (Mirror Sports) -

The race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot is heating up into a historic four-way battle, with football’s biggest names delivering under pressure on the global stage.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland are all tied at the top with seven goals each, setting a blistering pace as the tournament unfolds across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Just one step behind is Harry Kane, who sits on six goals and keeps England firmly in contention after a narrow 3–2 victory over Mexico secured their place in the quarter-finals.

Haaland’s brace to eliminate Brazil not only sent Norway into their first-ever World Cup quarter-final but also reinforced his reputation as one of the tournament’s standout performers. Kane, meanwhile, has continued to deliver on the big stage, overtaking England legend Gary Lineker to become the nation’s all-time leading World Cup scorer.

The Golden Boot chase is now drifting into historic territory, with Just Fontaine’s legendary record of 13 goals in a single tournament (1958) once again in focus as today’s stars push the limits of scoring greatness.

Only a select group of players in history have ever reached double figures at a single World Cup — but this generation is now threatening to rewrite that story entirely.

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June.23 (Mirror Sports) - The race for the Golden Boot is already producing history. Lionel Messi leads the standings with five goals, while Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland are close behind with four each in a record-breaking battle among football's biggest stars.

HAALAND DOUBLE SENDS NORWAY INTO LAST 32

Erling Haaland continued his sensational form with two goals as Norway edged Senegal 3-2 to secure a place in the World Cup last 32. The striker's four goals in two matches have also intensified the race for the Golden Boot.

ALGERIA FIGHT BACK TO ELIMINATE JORDAN

Algeria came from behind to beat Jordan 2-1 in San Francisco and keep their knockout hopes alive. Goals from Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri completed the comeback and ended Jordan's debut World Cup campaign.