The World Cup has concluded, with Spain securing the title of global champions for the second time by defeating Argentina.
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi engaged in a fierce battle for the Golden Boot as the tournament reached its electrifying finale.
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Since its rebranding from the Golden Shoe in 2010, four players have claimed the World Cup Golden Boot.
Thomas Muller secured the first award in South Africa, scoring five goals as Germany took third place, including one in the playoff against Uruguay.
James Rodriguez burst onto the scene in Brazil by clinching the 2014 Golden Boot with six goals, surpassing Muller, who scored five that year.
An Englishman triumphed in 2018, as Harry Kane netted six goals for the Three Lions, leading them to a fourth-place finish in Russia.
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Kylian Mbappe made a mark in history by winning the 2022 Golden Boot with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final against Argentina, outpacing Lionel Messi, who scored seven.
The two stars continued their rivalry in North America, and SunSport can unveil the top contenders for the Golden Boot in 2026.
Who is leading the race for the Golden Boot?
Mbappe’s two goals in France’s 6-4 defeat to England during the third-place play-off proved crucial in his Golden Boot bid.
With this brace, he reached a total of 10 goals, becoming the tournament’s top scorer, surpassing Messi.
The Argentine legend struggled to keep up with Mbappe’s performance, allowing the Real Madrid star to claim the honor for a second time.
1 Kylian Mbappe (France) – 10 (4 assists)
2 Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8 (4 assists)
T-3 Jude Bellingham (England) – 7 (1 assist)
T-3 Erling Haaland (Norway) – 7
T-5 Ousmane Dembele (France) – 5 (2 assists)
T-5 Harry Kane (England) – 6 (1 assist)
7 Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) – 5 (1 assist)
T-8 Vinicius Jr (Brazil) – 4 (1 assist)
T-8 Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) – 4 (1 assist)
T-8 Julian Quinones – 4 (1 assist)
World Cup Golden Boot tiebreakers: What happens if players are tied?
The Golden Boot is awarded to the player with the most goals during the tournament.
If multiple players finish with the same number of goals, the player with the highest assists is the winner.
If there’s still a tie, the award goes to the player who spent the least time on the pitch.
