By
Arinze Izik
Kylian Mbappé made World Cup history on Saturday despite France’s 6-4 loss to England in the third-place playoff, overtaking Lionel Messi for the all-time World Cup scoring record.
The France forward netted twice to reach 22 career World Cup goals, moving one clear of Messi’s mark of 21. He also finished the tournament with 10 goals, two ahead of Messi in the Golden Boot race. If he stays top after Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain, Mbappé will become the first player to claim the award in back-to-back World Cups.
“I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history and play in the match tomorrow,” Mbappé told Fox Sports in French.
Les Bleus were denied a third straight final appearance after falling to Spain in the semifinals. Mbappé won the Golden Boot four years ago in Qatar with 8 goals, the tournament where France lost to Messi’s Argentina on penalties in the final.
His 10 goals in 2026 equal the third-highest single-tournament tally. Only Just Fontaine’s 13 for France in 1958 and Sandor Kocsis’ 11 for Hungary in 1954 are higher, while Gerd Müller also hit 10 for West Germany in 1970.
France looked out of it at 4-0 down at half-time against England. The comeback started in the 48th minute when Mbappé flicked a finish past Dean Henderson. Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé also scored, and Michael Olise set up two to take his assist total to 7 — a new World Cup record, surpassing Pelé’s 6 in 1970.
Mbappé pulled France within 4-3 in the 66th minute with a left-footed shot from 14 yards, the goal that took him past Messi.
“There were two very different halves,” Mbappé said. “During the first one, I can understand why some people think we made fools of ourselves and didn’t do the jersey justice. I’d say instead that we were human — and we can’t afford to be. We were completely stunned, and they really shook us awake.”
He said the team wanted to deliver a win for Didier Deschamps in his last game in charge.
“In the end, we didn’t win, and that’s a shame for the coach,” Mbappé added. “The first half gives the impression that we let him down — that’s not at all how we wanted him to feel. This match isn’t going to tarnish Didier Deschamps’ legacy.”
Deschamps bows out after 14 years. He led France to World Cup glory in 2018, lost the 2022 final to Argentina on penalties, and saw this squad stopped by Spain in the last four.
“It is the end of a journey which represented the most beautiful period,” Deschamps said. “When I started in 2012 … I put the French team first.”
The coach defended Mbappé after the match.
“I know he has been given an image that is not true to reality,” he said through an interpreter. “He is an incredible captain, and like many of these players, he has evolved. He is disappointed that he did not manage to compete in the final.”
Zinedine Zidane is widely tipped to be named Deschamps’ successor by the French federation in the coming days.
