Kylian Mbappé has reached 22 goals in World Cups, surpassing Leo Messi (21) and becoming the all-time top scorer in the competition. He achieved this in the third-place match against England.
The French forward Kylian Mbappé has written his name in gold letters in World Cup history. With the two goals he scored in France's defeat against England (3-4) in the third-place match, the Real Madrid player reached 22 goals in the competition, thus surpassing Leo Messi, who remains at 21.
The match did not start well for the French. At half-time, England was already winning 0-4, a score that left little room for hope. However, Mbappé did not give up. As soon as the game resumed, he received a pass from Michael Olise and beat Dean Henderson with a first-time shot into the corner.
Two goals for history
The second goal came after a combination with Ousmane Dembélé and again Olise, which allowed Mbappé to bring France closer on the scoreboard with 3-4. Although the comeback did not materialise, those two goals were enough to secure a historic record: all-time top scorer in World Cups.
Additionally, with 10 goals in the current World Cup, Mbappé leads the Golden Boot with two goals more than Messi. The Argentine has the final against Spain on Sunday to try to match or surpass him, but he would need to score at least two goals. Both are tied on assists, with four each, a factor that could be decisive in case of a tie in goals.
Behind them, Erling Haaland has seven goals, and Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have six, although they no longer have a chance to catch up.
A record that seemed unbeatable
The previous record was held by Messi, who had scored 21 goals in his five World Cup appearances. Mbappé, at just 27 years old and having played in two World Cups (Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, in addition to the current one), has surpassed that mark at a dizzying pace. His scoring average is 1.1 goals per match, a figure that is frightening.
For fans, this means we are witnessing one of the greatest generational talents in football. His ability to decide matches at key moments has made him the offensive reference for France and the franchise player for Real Madrid. Looking to the future, Mbappé has plenty of time ahead and could extend his record in upcoming editions.
The final on Sunday between Argentina and Spain will determine if Messi can close the gap, but for now the throne belongs to Mbappé. The football world is witnessing a generational clash that promises strong emotions.
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