Kylian Mbappé of France has set a new World Cup scoring record, achieving his 22nd goal in the tournament during the third-place playoff against England. This performance also placed him at the top of the Golden Boot standings for the current tournament. The match, held in Miami, saw England defeat France 6-4 in a high-scoring encounter.
Mbappé’s brace in the match allowed him to surpass Lionel Messi’s previous record of 21 World Cup goals. Messi had earlier in the tournament moved into first place on the all-time scoring chart. Mbappé’s two goals against England brought his tally for the 2026 World Cup to 10, moving him ahead of Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
Historic Achievement in Miami
The third-place playoff delivered a memorable match with a total of 10 goals. England established a significant lead in the first half, going into halftime with a 4-0 advantage. Goals for England came from Declan Rice in the third minute, Ezri Konsa in the 18th minute, and a first-half brace from Bukayo Saka, who scored in the 37th minute and again in first-half stoppage time.
France mounted a comeback in the second half, with Mbappé initiating the revival with a goal three minutes into the second half. Bradley Barcola further reduced the deficit in the 54th minute. Mbappé then scored again in the 66th minute, making the score 4-3 and securing his place as the all-time leading goal-scorer in World Cup history.
Despite France’s efforts, England ultimately regained control. Bukayo Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Ousmane Dembélé scored for France deep into stoppage time, bringing the score to 5-4. Jude Bellingham then sealed England’s 6-4 victory with a solo goal in the 98th minute, securing third place for his team.
Golden Boot Race Intensifies
Mbappé’s second goal of the match marked a significant statistical achievement. The 27-year-old now has 22 goals in 22 World Cup appearances, maintaining an average of one goal per game across the 2018, 2022, and 2026 tournaments. In contrast, Messi reached 21 World Cup goals over 31 appearances before adding to his tally in the current tournament.
Mbappé’s World Cup journey includes the 2018 title and an appearance in the 2022 final. He also previously won the Young Player Award in Russia and scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final. Additionally, he has surpassed Olivier Giroud to become France’s all-time leading scorer. Mbappé has also become the player with the most non-penalty goals in World Cup history, with 19, surpassing Messi’s 17.
The race for the Golden Boot has seen a shift following Mbappé’s performance. Before the playoff, Messi led the standings with eight goals and four assists. The updated standings now show Mbappé with 10 goals and four assists, placing him in a strong position for the award. Messi currently has eight goals and four assists, while Jude Bellingham has seven goals and one assist. Ousmane Dembélé has six goals and two assists, and Harry Kane has six goals and one assist.
Despite Mbappé’s record-breaking afternoon, Messi still has an opportunity to respond. Messi will lead Argentina in the World Cup final against Spain on Sunday. A victory for Argentina would secure a second consecutive World Cup title, and a strong performance from Messi could potentially see him reclaim both the tournament scoring record and the Golden Boot.
Source: aljazeera.com
