France captain Kylian Mbappe has backed Argentina star Lionel Messi to find the net in Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain, despite the pair being rivals for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
Mbappe made the prediction after France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff, a result that ended Les Bleus’ campaign without a podium finish.
Speaking to French broadcaster M6, the Real Madrid forward expressed confidence that Messi would continue his impressive scoring form.
“Leo will score in the final, that is for sure. He scores every time,” Mbappe said.
The French captain also reflected on his own World Cup campaign, admitting that individual achievements mean little compared to missing out on the final.
Mbappe currently leads the race for the Golden Boot with 10 goals, two more than Messi, who has scored eight times heading into the title decider.
Despite his remarkable scoring record, the 27-year-old said he would gladly trade personal milestones for the opportunity to compete for the World Cup trophy.
“I try to help my team score. It’s true that when you score so many goals in the World Cup, it elevates you in certain areas, but I would have preferred not to be the all-time top scorer and to play in the match,” he said.
Mbappe added that while such records contribute to a player’s legacy, his focus remains on team success rather than personal accolades.
The World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will determine this year’s champions, while the race for the Golden Boot is also expected to go down to the final whistle if Messi adds to his tally.