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Mbappé Brace Leads Boot Race; Messi Photo Resurfaces Before Final

7/19/2026

31 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

2007 photo of Lionel Messi bathing infant Lamine Yamal resurfaced before the final.
Kylian Mbappé’s brace gave him 10 goals, a record 22 overall, and the Golden Boot lead.
Messi entered with eight goals and four assists and needs at least two goals and an assist to claim the Golden Boot.
The final pits Argentina against unbeaten Spain, while Mbappé keeps a tie-breaker edge of 769 minutes to Messi’s 712.

History

Historical Context

In 1986 Diego Maradona led Argentina to a World Cup win, a triumph seen as revenge for the Falklands War and cemented by his “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” against England. Argentina’s later victory over France on penalties in 2022 gave the nation three titles. Today Messi faces France’s Kylian Mbappé, echoing that historic legacy.

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Story summary

2007 photo of Lionel Messi bathing infant Lamine Yamal resurfaced before the final.
Kylian Mbappé’s brace gave him 10 goals, a record 22 overall, and the Golden Boot lead.
Messi entered with eight goals and four assists and needs at least two goals and an assist to claim the Golden Boot.
The final pits Argentina against unbeaten Spain, while Mbappé keeps a tie-breaker edge of 769 minutes to Messi’s 712.

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