Mbappé breaks Messi's World Cup Goals record despite France defeat

Kylian Mbappé reached another remarkable milestone in his extraordinary career by becoming the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Lionel Messi's long-standing record.

The France captain scored twice during Les Bleus' dramatic 6-4 defeat to England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff, taking his overall World Cup tally to 22 goals and moving one clear of Messi's previous record of 21.

While the achievement cements Mbappé's place among football's all-time greats, the 27-year-old admitted it brought little satisfaction after France failed to reach another World Cup final.

"I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history and instead be preparing for tomorrow's final," Mbappé said after the match.

Mbappé continues to rewrite World Cup history

Few players have dominated football's biggest tournament quite like Mbappé. His two goals against England not only secured the all-time scoring record but also moved him to 10 goals at the 2026 tournament, placing him in pole position to claim another Golden Boot.

If no player surpasses his tally in the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, Mbappé will become the first footballer to win the Golden Boot at two separate FIFA World Cups.

The French superstar previously claimed the award after scoring eight goals during the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

France's comeback falls short

France endured a nightmare opening half against England, trailing 4-0 before halftime in one of the biggest collapses of Didier Deschamps' tenure.

Mbappé sparked hopes of an incredible comeback shortly after the restart, finishing clinically to reduce the deficit before adding another goal later in the half to move past Messi in the World Cup record books.

Goals from Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé brought France within touching distance, but England ultimately held on before sealing victory late in stoppage time.

Despite the defeat, Mbappé refused to hide behind his individual success. He admitted France's first-half display fell well below the standards expected of the national team.

Golden Boot Race almost complete

Mbappé's 10-goal haul has placed him firmly ahead in the race for the tournament's Golden Boot. His closest challenger remains Lionel Messi, who enters the World Cup final against Spain needing at least three goals to overtake the French captain.

The race has added another fascinating subplot to one of the most memorable World Cups in recent history, with two modern legends continuing to push each other into football history.

Didier Deschamps ends historic era

Saturday's defeat also marked the end of Didier Deschamps' remarkable spell as France manager. Deschamps leaves after guiding France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title, the 2022 World Cup final, and another semi-final appearance in 2026.

Although disappointed by the result, Mbappé praised the outgoing coach and insisted the players wanted to give him a better farewell. The French Football Federation is widely expected to appoint Zinedine Zidane as Deschamps' successor in the coming days.

While Mbappé now stands alone as the FIFA World Cup's most prolific scorer, his reaction after the final whistle showed where his priorities truly lie. Individual records may strengthen his legacy, but the French captain made it clear that lifting the World Cup trophy remains the achievement that matters most.

At just 27 years old, with another World Cup likely still ahead of him, Mbappé's remarkable story on football's biggest stage appears far from finished.

SportsLigue