Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe had a tremendous World Cup tournament. There is no doubt about that. With 10 goals, Mbappe won the Golden Boot and reached the double digit mark for a record second straight tournament, and he set an even more prestigious record in the process with 22 total World Cup goals, already usurping Lionel Messi despite being more than 10 years his junior.
But in the end, Mbappe and France fell short with the Real Madrid No. 9 as the leader of the project. Though he showed more all around quality and leadership chops than he ever has in two seasons at the White House, Mbappe ultimately fell short in the most important game as Spain dominated France 2-0 in the semifinals.
Still, the narrative around Mbappe is more positive than ever despite a poor 2025/26 La Liga season. ESPN's Mark Ogden was handing out World Cup grades, and he gave Mbappe an "A" alongside dream Real Madrid striker target Erling Haaland writing, "The France forward scored 10 goals for Les Bleus and won the Golden Boot for the second successive World Cup to prove that he is the best player in the world right now."
Kylian Mbappe has not answered the debate
That last remark will set off a debate among Real Madrid fans. Because while many would like to think Mbappe is the best in the world, there are plenty of others who are not even sure he is the best player on the team. For example, Jude Bellingham had more clutch goals, an even better all around impact as a midfielder, and finished with a higher ranking than Mbappe's France. And Thibaut Courtois has been THE mainstay for Madrid in between the sticks.
For the rest of the world, Mbappe is the benchmark, and his performances at the World Cup with all the goals he scores seals it. But for Madridistas and those who follow football more closely, including the Champions League, Mbappe still has a lot to prove when it comes to definitively saying that he is the best player in the world.
And there were plenty at the World Cup who did not feel that way about Mbappe either. Mbappe was the Bronze Ball of the World Cup despite being the Golden Boot, with Lionel Messi winning the Silver Ball and the man who dominated his France, Rodri, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Is Mbappe the best? It's still a debate, even at his own club.
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