Kylian Mbappé has become the FIFA World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer after scoring twice in France's 6-4 defeat to England in the 2026 World Cup third-place play-off.

The Real Madrid forward took his World Cup tally to 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi's previous record of 21. The two goals also saw Mbappé finish the 2026 tournament with 10 goals, placing him at the top of the Golden Boot standings ahead of the World Cup final.
Despite the individual milestone, France ended their campaign without a medal after England secured third place in a thrilling contest at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Historic achievement in a high-scoring encounter

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The third-place match produced one of the most entertaining games of the tournament, with England defeating France 6-4 in the highest-scoring World Cup third-place play-off on record.

Kylian Mbappé // Instagram
England stormed into an early lead through Declan Rice ,Ezri Konsa , and Bukayo Saka before France mounted a spirited comeback. Mbappé scored twice to keep Les Bleus in contention, but Saka completed a hat-trick, and Jude Bellingham added a late goal to seal victory for the Three Lions.
Although France fell short, the evening belonged to Mbappé, who etched his name into football history by overtaking Messi as the competition's most prolific scorer.
"Records are special, but winning trophies is what matters most," Mbappé added after the game.

A remarkable World Cup record

Mbappé has built his record across three World Cup tournaments.
He scored four goals during France's victorious 2018 campaign in Russia before adding eight in Qatar in 2022. His latest haul of 10 goals in North America has taken his overall tally to 22, making him the tournament's all-time leading scorer at just 27 years of age.

Football fans react

Mbappé's achievement quickly became one of the biggest talking points on social media, with supporters praising his consistency on football's biggest stage.
Samuel Kariuki wrote:
"Breaking Messi's World Cup record at 27 is
An incredible achievement. Mbappé is creating his own legacy."
Grace Wanjiru commented:
"France may have lost, but Mbappé gave everything. Twenty-two World Cup goals is simply remarkable."

Kylian Mbappé // Instagram
Daniel Otieno added:
"That was one of the craziest third-place matches I've ever watched. Mbappé still found a way to make history."
Mercy Achieng said:
"Congratulations to England, but Mbappé's record is something football fans will remember for years."

Eyes on future success

While the defeat denied France a podium finish, Mbappé's latest milestone further strengthens his place among the greatest players in World Cup history.
France's campaign ended earlier than expected following their semi-final defeat to Spain, while England bounced back from their loss to Argentina by securing third place.
For Mbappé, the tournament ends with mixed emotions. He leaves with a historic scoring record and a strong chance of winning the Golden Boot, but without the World Cup title that remains his ultimate ambition.