Mbappé outshines Messi to become first two-time Golden Boot winner
Mbappé totalled 10 goals and four assists for a France team that finished fourth, while Messi ended up with eight goals and four assists.
Kylian Mbappé is now the owner of two World Cup Golden Boots.
The French striker became the first player to finish as the leading scorer at multiple World Cups, winning his second Golden Boot award when Lionel Messi was blanked in Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain on Sunday (19 July) in the final.
Mbappé totalled 10 goals and four assists for a France team that finished fourth. Messi ended up with eight goals and four assists after going without a goal or an assist for the first time in his last 12 World Cup games.
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Messi was still hoping to win a record-extending third Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. He is already the only player to win the award multiple times since it was first given in 1978, and sparking Argentina's run to a second straight final at age 39 gives him a strong case for another.
The Golden Boot is one of the few things Messi has never won in his storied career, but he went into the final weekend with the lead. Both Messi and Mbappé had eight goals through the semifinals, but Messi owned the tiebreaker with one more assist.
Mbappé then scored two goals and had an assist Saturday in France's 6-4 loss to England in the third-place game, making him the first player with 10 goals in a World Cup since Germany great Gerd Müller had 10 in 1970.
The France captain also won the Golden Boot four years ago in Qatar, when France lost to Argentina in the final.
