Mbappé's World Cup Dream Ends, But Golden Boot Battle With Messi Is Far From Over

France's hopes of reaching a third consecutive FIFA World Cup final came to an end after a 2-0 semifinal defeat to Spain , but captain Kylian Mbappé still has one major prize left to fight for, the Golden Boot .

The French superstar endured a frustrating evening in Arlington as Spain controlled possession and restricted his influence throughout the match. Mbappé struggled to break through Spain's disciplined defence and was unable to create the kind of opportunities that have defined his tournament.

Spain seized the advantage in the 22nd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted a penalty after Lucas Digne was ruled to have fouled teenage sensation Lamine Yamal inside the box. The goal handed La Roja the momentum, and France found it difficult to respond against Spain's composed midfield and organised backline.

Mbappé's best chance came in the 67th minute when his powerful effort took a deflection off Marc Cucurella and drifted just wide of the post. By then, Spain had already doubled their lead, leaving the French with too much to do.

Speaking after the defeat, Mbappé accepted responsibility as captain, admitting that France simply failed to match Spain's quality.

"When you win, you take all the glory. When you don't win, it's part of the game. As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility, and I have no problem with that," he said.

Despite the heartbreak, the 27-year-old remains firmly in contention for the tournament's Golden Boot . Mbappé has scored eight goals , the same as Lionel Messi , but currently holds the edge on the first tiebreaker with three assists , compared to Messi's two .

The race for the award is still wide open. Messi and Argentina were set to face England in the second semifinal, while Mbappé will have one final chance to improve his tally when France plays the third-place playoff on Saturday.

Having won the Golden Boot at the previous FIFA World Cup in Qatar , Mbappé now has an opportunity to retain the individual honour, even though France's dream of another appearance in the World Cup final has come to an end.