Kylian Mbappé takes Lionel Messi’s World Cup goals record and Golden Boot lead / Image: AP
Kylian Mbappe has put himself in pole position to win the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup after scoring twice against England in the third-place play-off, a performance that saw him break Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup record.France eventually suffered a dramatic 6-4 defeat to England in a 10-goal thriller in Miami, but Mbappe achieved the biggest individual achievement of the afternoon. His brace took his tally to 10 goals and four assists in the tournament, putting him ahead of Messi, who heads into Sunday’s final against Spain with eight goals and four assists.The turnaround underscores why the World Cup third-place match, despite often being described as a consolation match, can have such a huge impact on football’s biggest individual silverware.
The third-place match reshapes the Golden Boot race
Before Saturday’s match, Messi topped the Golden Boot standings.The Argentina captain had stormed forward after his impressive display in the semi-final against England, producing two goals in Argentina’s 2-1 win to sit on eight goals and four assists. Meanwhile, Mbappé scored eight goals and three assists after France’s semi-final defeat to Spain.With France with one official FIFA match remaining, Mbappe had one last chance to get the better of his long-time rival.
He did just that.
Frenchman Kylian Mbappe (10 years old) scores his team’s third goal during the third-place football match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo / Lynne Sladky)
England led 4-0 at the end of the first half through Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and a brace from Bukayo Saka, leaving France facing an embarrassing defeat.Mbappe began the comeback three minutes into the second half, finishing the game confidently in the 48th minute to make it 4-1.Bradley Barkola added the second goal for France in the 54th minute, before Mbappe scored another goal in the 66th minute, reducing England’s lead to 4-3 and dramatically changing the Golden Boot race.England eventually claimed third place through Saka’s penalty in the 87th minute, before Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back in stoppage time to make it 5-4. Jude Bellingham then sealed the score with a late goal to make it 6-4, but Mbappe’s individual achievements remained the biggest talking point.
Updated Golden Shoe ranking
Mbappe’s brace makes the race look very different heading into the World Cup final.
- Kylian Mbappe (France): 10 goals, 4 assists
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): 8 goals, 4 assists
- Jude Bellingham (England): 7 goals, 1 assist
- Ousmane Dembélé (France): 6 goals, 2 assists
- Harry Kane (England): 6 goals, 1 assist
With the French Championship now over, Mbappe’s tally is complete.However, Messi still has one game remaining against Spain, and could reduce or overturn the deficit in Sunday’s World Cup final.
Historical records are crumbling
Mbappe’s second goal had significance beyond the Golden Boot standings.The France captain raised his tally to 22 goals in the World Cup finals, surpassing Messi to become the highest scorer in World Cup history.What’s even more striking is that the Real Madrid striker reached this mark in just 22 World Cup matches, averaging exactly one goal per game.
Messi reached 21 goals after 31 matches before adding another goal during Argentina’s march to this year’s final.
France’s Kylian Mbappe, 10, celebrates scoring his team’s third goal as England’s Jarel Quansah, 26, looks on during the soccer third-place match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Mbappé also became the record holder for most goals without penalty kicks in World Cup history, rising to 19 goals, surpassing Messi’s previous tally of 17 goals.
Why is the third place match still important?
Saturday’s drama once again highlighted why the third-place play-off remains far more important than many assume.Although it only decides the bronze medal, it is an official FIFA World Cup match, meaning every goal, assist and minute played counts towards individual awards such as the Golden Boot.History has shown the impact of the match. France legend Just Fontaine scored four goals in the 1958 third-place match against West Germany, finishing with an unrivaled 13 goals in a single tournament.In 1998, Croatia’s Davor Šuker scored the winning goal against the Netherlands in the bronze medal match to earn the Golden Boot with six goals.The same scenario played out in 2010, when Thomas Müller, David Villa, Wesley Sneijder and Diego Forlan finished with five goals.
Müller scored in Germany’s 3-2 win over Uruguay in the third-place play-off, while Forlan also found the net in that match, but Müller was awarded the Golden Boot because his three assists gave him the advantage over the other rivals.The 2026 edition has now produced another decisive moment in the race.With goals in the 48th and 66th minutes against England, Mbappe transformed the standings, dominating the Golden Boot race while simultaneously becoming the World Cup’s all-time prolific goal scorer.Only Messi, with one final game left to play against Spain, now has the chance to be denied both honours.