Negative Records Follow Argentina and Messi.. Mbappé Strengthens His Dominance in World Cup Scoring Records
Argentina’s presence in the final stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup did not live up to expectations, as the defending champions settled for a defensive approach against Spain, who dominated the match and secured the final victory deservedly to claim the second World Cup title in their history.
The “La Albiceleste” failed to deliver the expected performance, while captain Lionel Messi finished the match without his usual influence, in a night that produced several negative records for Argentina and its veteran star. Meanwhile, French forward Kylian Mbappé continued making history by winning the Golden Boot for the second consecutive time and strengthening his lead in the list of the World Cup’s all-time top scorers.
Difficult Final.. Unprecedented Numbers for Messi and Argentina
The final witnessed a series of negative statistics that reflected Argentina’s struggles against Spain, as the team became the first side in World Cup history to fail to register a single shot throughout the entire 90 minutes of a final, setting an unprecedented record in the tournament.
Argentina also finished as World Cup runners-up for the fourth time in its history, becoming the team with the most second-place finishes in the competition, level with Germany in this record.
Lionel Messi’s performance was also part of this picture, as he managed only one touch during the opening 15 minutes of the match, highlighting the effectiveness of Spain’s defense in limiting his threat from the start.
The Argentine captain received a rating of 7, his lowest score in a World Cup match since the 2018 tournament encounter against Croatia, when Argentina suffered a 3-0 defeat in the group stage.
Messi also failed to reclaim the record for the World Cup’s all-time top scorer, as his tally remained at 21 goals, leaving him behind French star Kylian Mbappé, who raised his total to 22 goals.
The final also produced another historic milestone for Messi, as at the age of 39 he became the oldest outfield player — excluding goalkeepers — to feature in a World Cup final and lose it, in what many believe could be his final appearance in the tournament.
Mbappé Retains the Golden Boot and Strengthens His Historic Status
On the other hand, Kylian Mbappé continued to confirm his status as one of the biggest stars in world football after winning the World Cup Golden Boot for the second consecutive time.
The French captain topped the scoring charts at the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, after scoring 10 goals, including a brace against England in the third-place playoff, despite France’s 6-4 defeat.
Mbappé surpassed Lionel Messi in the race for the top scorer award, with the Argentine ending the tournament with 8 goals after failing to score in the semi-final against England and the final against Spain.
This was not the first time the French star had beaten Messi in the Golden Boot race. He previously achieved the same feat at the 2022 World Cup, when he scored 8 goals compared with 7 for the Argentine captain.
Mbappé also strengthened his position at the top of the World Cup’s all-time scoring list with 22 goals in just three appearances at the tournament, moving one goal ahead of Messi, who scored 21 goals across six World Cup campaigns. Widespread expectations suggest that the 2026 edition could be Messi’s final World Cup appearance.
In the current tournament’s scoring rankings, England’s Jude Bellingham finished third with 7 goals, level with Norway’s Erling Haaland, while his compatriot Harry Kane ranked fifth with 6 goals. The 2026 World Cup concluded with a scoring race that witnessed Mbappé’s continued dominance at the top, while Messi and Argentina endured a painful ending on the tournament’s biggest stage.
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Author: Counselor Faisal Al-Mutairi
Publication Date: July 20, 2026
Last Updated: July 2026
