Which player scored the most goals in the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Kylian Mbappé scored the most goals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, finishing with eight for France. His total earned him the tournament’s Golden Boot, awarded to the leading scorer.

Mbappé scored three goals in France’s final against Argentina, including two penalties in normal time and another penalty in extra time. His hat-trick made him only the second player to score three times in a World Cup final, after England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966. France ultimately lost the final on penalties after a 3–3 draw.

His eight goals came across seven matches in Qatar. Lionel Messi finished second with seven goals, while Olivier Giroud and Julián Álvarez each scored four. Mbappé’s scoring record was especially notable because he had already scored four goals at the 2018 World Cup, giving him 12 goals across his first two tournaments.

The common mix-up is choosing Messi because Argentina won the trophy and he won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Those are separate awards: Messi was the leading player by tournament evaluation, while Mbappé led the scoring chart.