Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, 10, celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the third-place soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Kylian Mbappe has rewritten football history once again.The France captain scored twice in a stunning 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place match at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the all-time top scorer in World Cup history while simultaneously moving to the top of the Golden Boot standings ahead of Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain.Although France fell short of a 10-goal thriller in Miami, Mbappé left the field having broken Lionel Messi’s long-standing scoring record on football’s biggest stage.His brace took him to 22 goals in World Cup finals, one more than Messi, who moved into first place earlier in this tournament. Mbappe also moved up to 10 goals in the 2026 World Cup, surpassing Messi in the Golden Boot race after the Argentina captain finished the semi-final with eight goals.
England survives an exciting match with 10 goals
The third place match provided one of the most entertaining matches in World Cup history.England led 4-0 at the end of the first half through goals from Declan Rice in the third minute, Ezri Konsa in the 18th minute, and a brace from Bukayo Saka in the first half, who scored in the 37th minute and then added two more goals in stoppage time for the first half.As Didier Deschamps prepared for the final match of his 14-year spell as France coach, the French national team responded with a dramatic revival after the break.
Mbappe started the comeback with a brilliant finish three minutes into the second half before Bradley Barkula pulled one back further in the 54th minute.
Frenchman Kylian Mbappé (10) scores his first goal past England goalkeeper Dean Henderson (13) during the soccer third-place match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Marta Lavander)
The Real Madrid forward then scored again in the 66th minute to make it 4-3, a goal that not only revived France’s hopes but also carried enormous historical significance as it lifted him above Messi in the list of all-time World Cup top scorers.England eventually regained control.Bukayo Saka completed his hat-trick from a penalty kick in the 87th minute, before Ousmane Dembele scored a goal in stoppage time to reduce the gap to 5-4. Jude Bellingham then capped an extraordinary match with a brilliant individual goal in the 98th minute as England secured a memorable 6-4 victory and finished third.
The new king of World Cup goals
Mbappe’s second goal of the afternoon completed one of the most remarkable statistical feats in football history.The 27-year-old has now scored 22 goals in just 22 World Cup appearances, maintaining an exceptional average of one goal per game across the 2018, 2022 and 2026 tournaments.By comparison, Messi reached 21 World Cup goals in 31 matches before adding another goal during Argentina’s run to this year’s final.Mbappe’s World Cup journey has already included the 2018 title, the 2022 final, and now another deep run in 2026.
He made his debut on the world stage by winning the Young Player of the Year award in Russia before scoring a hat-trick in the 2022 final against Argentina, although France eventually lost on penalties.
Kylian Mbappé takes Lionel Messi’s World Cup goals record and Golden Boot lead / Image: AP
During this tournament, he also overtook Olivier Giroud to become France’s all-time top scorer. His latest double added another record to his already exceptional CV.Mbappé is now also the player who has scored the most goals without penalties in World Cup history, taking it to 19 goals, surpassing Messi’s tally of 17 goals.
The Golden Boot race is swinging in Mbappe’s favour
This double also led to a radical change in the race for the tournament’s top scorer.Before kick-off, Messi topped the standings after providing two assists in Argentina’s semi-final win over England, giving him eight goals and four assists compared to Mbappe’s eight goals and three assists.Saturday’s performance completely changed the picture.The updated ranking is:
- 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
Mbappe now has a two-goal lead at the top, putting him in pole position to win the Golden Boot.
Messi still has one last chance
Despite Mbappe’s historic afternoon, the story is not over yet.Messi will lead Argentina into Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain at New York, New Jersey, giving the 39-year-old one last chance to strike back.A win would give Argentina a second successive World Cup title, while multiple goals could see Messi regain the tournament record and Golden Boot.However, for now, both honors go to Mbappé.In a tournament already filled with impressive individual performances, the France captain achieved another historic feat, becoming the first player ever to score 22 goals in a World Cup, in just 22 appearances, moving one step closer to adding another Golden Boot to his growing collection of individual honours.
