Kylian Mbappe Leaves With History, But Spain Walk Away With Almost Everything Else
France's star striker claimed another Golden Boot, yet Spain's dominance stretched far beyond lifting the World Cup trophy.
Kylian Mbappe has once again finished a World Cup as the tournament's top scorer. But while the French captain made history with a second Golden Boot, the biggest story after the 2026 FIFA World Cup is just how completely Spain took over the tournament's biggest prizes.
Spain not only defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift their second World Cup title, they also collected three of FIFA's four major individual awards, underlining a tournament that belonged to them from start to finish.
Mbappe Makes World Cup History
Mbappe ended the tournament with 10 goals, securing the Golden Boot after Argentina captain Lionel Messi failed to score in the final. The France forward became the first player to win the World Cup's top scorer award twice, having also claimed it in Qatar in 2022.
His tally was boosted by two goals in France's third-place playoff against England, though France ultimately lost that match 6-4, allowing him to pull clear of Messi, who finished on eight. England's Jude Bellingham and Norway's Erling Haaland shared third place in the scoring charts with seven goals each.
For Mbappe, the award is another remarkable personal milestone. Yet it also comes with an obvious frustration. France left the tournament without reaching the final, meaning football's most prolific forward still watched the biggest match from the sidelines.
Spain Sweep the Individual Honours
While Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot, nearly every other major award went Spain's way.
Captain Rodri was named the tournament's best player and received the Golden Ball after anchoring Spain's midfield throughout their unbeaten campaign. The honour capped an extraordinary comeback after recovering from a serious knee injury that had threatened to derail his career.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón collected the Golden Glove after Spain conceded just one goal throughout the tournament, reflecting one of the strongest defensive performances seen at a World Cup.
Nineteen-year-old defender Pau Cubarsí completed Spain's awards haul by being named the tournament's Best Young Player, highlighting the emergence of another key figure in a squad already packed with established stars.
A Team Effort Over Individual Brilliance
The contrast between Spain and France was difficult to ignore.
France produced the tournament's leading scorer, but Spain produced the most complete team. Their midfield controlled games, their defence gave opponents almost nothing, and their squad consistently found answers when matches became tense.
That balance was on display in the final against Argentina. Spain eventually broke through in extra time thanks to Ferran Torres, while Argentina failed to register a shot on target across 120 minutes.
Two Different Legacies
The final awards list tells two different stories.
Mbappe leaves the United States, Canada and Mexico with another place in football history. Becoming the first two-time Golden Boot winner confirms his status as one of the greatest World Cup goalscorers the game has seen.
Spain, however, leave with something even bigger.
They are world champions again, and with three individual awards alongside the trophy, they head home knowing this tournament was defined not by one extraordinary player, but by an extraordinary team.