Mbappé surpasses Messi in World Cup goal-scoring record as England defeat France
Kylian Mbappé has surpassed Lionel Messi‘s all-time World Cup goal-scoring record, achieving 22 goals in the tournament’s history. This milestone occurred during France‘s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place play-off match. Despite Mbappé’s individual achievement, France was unable to secure the bronze medal.
Mbappé’s two goals in the match also elevated his total to 10 goals for the current tournament, positioning him as the leader in the Golden Boot race. He is now two goals clear of Messi, who has eight goals and is scheduled to play in the World Cup final. Both players currently have four assists, which serves as a tiebreaker if their goal tallies are equal.
Golden Boot Race and Historical Records
The 2026 World Cup has seen several records broken. Mbappé’s performance places him in a strong position for the Golden Boot, with Messi needing to score twice in the final against Spain to potentially overtake him. Other notable goal-scorers in the tournament include Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, both with seven goals, and Harry Kane with six goals.
Mbappé and Messi have both surpassed Miroslav Klose‘s previous record of 16 goals in the all-time World Cup goal-scoring chart. Haaland became Norway‘s leading World Cup goal-scorer after just two games, while Kane surpassed Gary Lineker as England‘s top World Cup scorer. The record for most goals in a single tournament, 13 goals set by Just Fontaine in 1958, remains a target, with only three players in World Cup history having reached double figures in a single tournament: Fontaine, Gerd Muller in 1970, and Sandor Kocsis in 1954.
Other records broken in the tournament include Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo playing in six World Cup tournaments each, with Ronaldo also becoming the first player to score in six World Cups and the oldest player to score multiple goals in a game. Curacao became the smallest nation to appear at a World Cup, and the match between Mexico and South Africa saw the most red cards in an opening match.
England’s Performance and Managerial Reflections
England secured third place in the tournament, marking their best World Cup finish since their victory in 1966. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick for England, and Jude Bellingham also contributed to their six goals. Michael Olise assisted both of Mbappé’s goals for France, taking his assist tally to seven for the tournament, which broke Pelé‘s record for most assists at a single World Cup, a record that had stood since 1970.
Thomas Tuchel, England’s manager, reflected on the team’s performance, acknowledging the pain of missing out on the final but also expressing pride in securing a medal. He stated that the team needs to regain trust on a daily basis in international football and prove themselves consistently. The match itself was a high-scoring affair, ending 6-4, and was noted as the sixth game in men’s World Cup history with 10 or more goals, and the highest-scoring game since 1982.
Didier Deschamps, France’s manager, also commented on the game, stating that he did not want this match to define his 14-year tenure. He expressed pride in his service to the team and wished the next French head coach the best. The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is scheduled to take place on Sunday.
Read Also
Source: skysports.com
