Kylian Mbappe has secured his place in football history by moving past Lionel Messi to become the World Cup’s highest goalscorer of all time. This achievement occurred during France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff held in Miami Gardens, Florida, which also served as the final match under manager Didier Deschamps.
Mbappe recorded two goals during the match, bringing his total career World Cup tally to 22. While France faced a difficult start by trailing 4-0, Mbappe initiated a comeback in the second half, supported by Bradley Barcola. Despite their efforts, England maintained control through a Bukayo Saka hat-trick and a late goal from Jude Bellingham.
Following the match, Mbappe expressed that the individual record provided little comfort compared to missing out on the final. He noted that while the milestone contributes to his legacy, his priority remains team success. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi, currently at 39, has the chance to regain the record during Argentina’s upcoming final against Spain. Mbappe also holds a lead in the 2026 Golden Boot race with 10 goals, two ahead of Messi.
