13 articles
The day after Spain beat Argentina to win the World Cup, the 19-year-old tops the post-final power rankings for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, placed ahead of Messi, Kane, Dembele and Mbappe.
The France captain finishes the World Cup on 10 goals to become the first player ever to top the scoring charts at two tournaments in a row, with Lionel Messi second on eight after a blank in the final.
The Manchester City midfielder took best player at World Cup 2026 with no goals and no assists, edging Lionel Messi and his eight goals in the tournament's most argued verdict. Spain swept the individual prizes.
Argentina came to defend their crown and left without a single shot on target. Spain won 1-0 after extra time, and Lionel Messi's likely last World Cup ended without the trophy and without the Golden Boot, lost to Kylian Mbappe.
Forbes now values Lionel Messi at around $1.1bn, putting him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as the only footballers near the billion mark. Other estimates run lower. Here is how he got there.
Argentina meet Spain at MetLife on Sunday with far more than the World Cup at stake. Messi can start a third final, and the holders aim for something no team has managed since Brazil in 1962.
No host nation, no England, and still the planet has adopted this one. Spain against Argentina is the World Cup final the neutrals claimed as their own: Messi's farewell, Yamal's coronation, and a Golden Boot still up for grabs.
Argentina face Spain in the World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Here is the kick-off time wherever you are, how to watch, and what the models make of it.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice in France's 6-4 defeat to England to reach 10 goals and lead the Golden Boot race. Lionel Messi, on eight, must strike at least twice against Spain tonight to overhaul him.
Spain's teenage forward walks out at MetLife on Sunday against the childhood hero he idolised. At 19, Lamine Yamal is about to become the third-youngest player ever to grace a World Cup final.
Lionel Messi, 39 and playing what is widely expected to be his final World Cup match, leads Argentina against reigning European champions Spain at MetLife Stadium today. Kickoff is 3pm ET, 8pm in the UK.
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are tied on seven goals apiece for the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot, with Mbappe holding the tiebreaker edge as Erling Haaland and Harry Kane push from two behind.
Cristiano Ronaldo's 6th-minute opener in Portugal's 5-0 rout of Uzbekistan made him the first player ever to score at six different World Cups, breaking clear of Lionel Messi.
