Kylian Mbappé surpasses Lionel Messi's World Cup g...

By Priya Nair — 19 July 2026 — 3 min read

Kylian Mbappé has made history by becoming the World Cup‘s all-time leading goal scorer. The France captain achieved this milestone during his team’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff match. Mbappé scored two goals in the match, bringing his total World Cup career goals to 22, surpassing Lionel Messi‘s record of 21 goals.

The match, held in Miami, was a high-scoring affair, with England ultimately securing third place. Despite France‘s loss, Mbappé’s individual performance was notable, as he also moved to the top of the Golden Boot standings for the 2026 World Cup, with 10 goals.

Mbappé’s Historic Performance

Mbappé’s first goal in the third-place playoff came three minutes into the second half, initiating a comeback attempt for France. He then scored again in the 66th minute, which not only narrowed the deficit to 4-3 but also propelled him past Messi in the all-time World Cup scoring charts. This achievement marks another significant milestone in the 27-year-old’s career.

His 22 goals have been scored in just 22 World Cup appearances across the 2018, 2022, and 2026 tournaments, maintaining an average of one goal per game. In contrast, Messi achieved his 21 goals over 31 appearances before the current tournament’s final. Mbappé’s World Cup journey includes winning the Young Player Award in 2018 and scoring a hat-trick in the 2022 final.

Beyond the overall scoring record, Mbappé also now holds the record for the most non-penalty goals in World Cup history, with 19, surpassing Messi‘s tally of 17. His recent brace also saw him overtake Olivier Giroud to become France‘s all-time leading scorer.

Golden Boot Race and Final Opportunities

Mbappé’s performance in the third-place playoff significantly impacted the race for the Golden Boot. Before the match, Messi led the standings with eight goals and four assists, compared to Mbappé’s eight goals and three assists. However, Mbappé’s two goals and an assist in the playoff shifted the lead in his favour.

The updated standings show Kylian Mbappé with 10 goals and 4 assists, while Lionel Messi has 8 goals and 4 assists. Other notable contenders include Jude Bellingham of England with 7 goals and 1 assist, and Ousmane Dembélé of France with 6 goals and 2 assists. Harry Kane of England also has 6 goals and 1 assist.

Despite Mbappé’s new records, the Golden Boot race is not yet definitively concluded. Messi is set to lead Argentina in the World Cup final against Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium. This match presents Messi with a final opportunity to potentially reclaim both the tournament scoring record and the Golden Boot, should he score multiple goals.

Kylian Mbappe scores France's third goal during the FIFA World Cup third place play-off match against France at Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday. Credit: m.rediff.com

The third-place playoff itself was a thrilling encounter, with England initially taking a commanding 4-0 lead by halftime. Goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and a brace from Bukayo Saka put England in a strong position. France, under manager Didier Deschamps in his final match after a 14-year tenure, mounted a comeback in the second half.

Following Mbappé’s two goals, Bradley Barcola further reduced the deficit. However, England regained control, with Bukayo Saka completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Ousmane Dembélé scored for France deep into stoppage time, but Jude Bellingham sealed England‘s 6-4 victory with a solo goal in the 98th minute.

Mbappé, who has now finished his third World Cup campaign with 10 goals, expressed a preference for playing in the final over holding the scoring record. He achieved his 22 goals in 22 appearances, having scored four goals in 2018 and eight in 2022.