For millions of supporters, Mbappé’s journey to this defining moment represents years of hard work, consistency and brilliance on the biggest stage. The France forward strengthened his claim after delivering a spectacular two-goal performance against England in the third-place play-off, taking his tournament tally to 10 goals and putting himself in pole position for the prestigious individual award.
However, another section of fans continues to back Argentina captain Lionel Messi, believing the legendary forward still has one final opportunity to rewrite history. Messi has remained among the tournament’s most influential players, combining goals, assists and leadership to guide Argentina into the final. Supporters believe a remarkable performance against Spain could allow the Argentine icon to overtake Mbappé and claim the Golden Boot.
While the Mbappé-Messi rivalry dominates discussions, Spain’s supporters have their own argument — highlighting the extraordinary unbeaten run of La Roja throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spain have defeated every opponent they faced from the group stage to the knockout rounds, including the Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals. Their defensive discipline, possession-based football and attacking creativity have made them the most difficult team to overcome in the tournament.
Spain’s fans believe their side’s consistency and teamwork have been the foundation of their success. Unlike teams built around a single superstar, Spain’s path to the final has been shaped by collective brilliance. Their young sensation Lamine Yamal has provided creativity and decisive moments, while Mikel Oyarzabal and other attacking players have delivered crucial goals at key stages of the competition. The team’s midfield dominance and organised defence have helped them maintain an unbeaten record and establish themselves as the tournament’s most complete side.
The final now brings two of football’s brightest stars, Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, into the spotlight as they prepare to showcase their talent against each other. For Messi, the challenge is not only to lift the World Cup trophy but also to remain alive in the Golden Boot race by breaking through a Spain defence that has frustrated some of the world’s most dangerous attackers.
A goal-scoring masterclass from Messi could completely transform the Golden Boot standings, while another disciplined performance from Spain could strengthen their claim as the invincible champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Beyond the Golden Boot race, the tournament has also witnessed outstanding performances from several top players whose teams have already been eliminated. England’s Bukayo Saka became one of the heroes of the competition after his remarkable display in the third-place match, while Jude Bellingham impressed with his leadership and attacking contributions. Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé also displayed their world-class abilities despite falling short of reaching the final stages.
Although these stars may no longer be competing for the World Cup trophy or the Golden Boot, their performances have earned admiration from millions of football fans worldwide. With only hours remaining before the final decision, fans are eagerly waiting to discover whether Mbappé will secure the Golden Boot, whether Messi can produce another historic chapter, and whether Spain will complete their unbeaten journey by becoming FIFA World Cup 2026 champions.