The race for the World Cup Golden Boot went right down to the wire, but in the end it was Kylian Mbappe who claimed the prestigious award in Qatar.
The forward eventually sealed the feat in the grand finale between Argentina and France, scoring a dramatic hat-trick with the two sides settled after 120 minutes of action.
Mbappe finished the tournament with eight goals and two assists, in turn seeing off competition from Lionel Messi, Olivier Giroud and Julian Alvarez. But it was Messi who had the last laugh, as Argentina eventually won on penalties.
Heading into the final, the competition had narrowed down to four realistic contenders, being Messi, Mbappe, Giroud and Alvarez.
It was Messi, on five goals and three assists, who led the way before kick-off. He was level on goals with Mbappe – but with a greater number of assists to his name, it was the Argentinian wizard who took pole position.
Mbappe started the game on five goals and two assists, needing a further assist -without reply – to move ahead of Messi in the race. That’s because he had accumulated fewer minutes than his counterpart, which was the next deciding factor should two players finish on the same number of goals and assists.
Giroud was also within touching distance on four goals, but he was taken off – alongside Ousmane Dembele – in the first half, with France 2-0 down and well off the pace.
Messi then took matters into his own hands, converting from the spot after 23 minutes, after Angel Di Maria was taken down in the area by Ousmane Dembele.
But then came the Mbappe show. First, he converted from the spot, giving France a much-needed lifeline. Just a minute later, he volleyed home an exquisite second to draw France level and move ahead of Messi in the Golden Boot race.
The story wasn’t over there, though. In the second period of extra time, Messi prodded home to give Argentina a 3-2 lead, and once again reclaim his place at the top of the Golden Boot leaderboard.
A drama-filled final continued to twist and turn, as France were awarded a penalty with just two minutes remaining. Of course, Mbappe found the back of the net, dispatching neatly into the corner. The goal took the match to penalties.
Messi thought he had given Argentina the win and claimed the Golden Boot with another goal.
But Mbappe fired back with his hat-trick goal – another from the spot – to win the award.
Messi had beforehand made history by becoming the first player ever to score in every round of a World Cup, but it was Mbappe who claimed the Golden Boot.
Four years ago it was England captain Harry Kane who claimed the Golden Boot with six goals in Russia, but he was unable to replicate the feat in Qatar.
And though it was Mbappe, and not Messi, who won the Golden Boot, it was the Argentinian who won in the end as they claimed victory after penalties.
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