Kylian Mbappé passes Lionel Messi to become all-time World Cup top scorer with 22 goals

Kylian Mbappé etched his name into football history by overtaking Lionel Messi as the all-time leading scorer at the World Cup finals. The French superstar reached 22 career goals at the tournament, moving two clear of the Argentine great who had been stuck on 20, with a second-half brace in France's third-place play-off defeat to England.

At 27, Mbappé reached the milestone by scoring twice after the break in a 6-4 loss to the host nation. His personal tally climbs to 10 goals at the 2026 World Cup, making him the leading marksman of the tournament for the second consecutive edition after his Golden Boot triumph in Qatar in 2022.

The double also extends his lead in the race for the Golden Boot to two goals ahead of Messi, underlining his status as the standout forward of the competition. Mbappé, who claimed the award in Qatar when France fell to Argentina on penalties in the final, has made a habit of deciding the biggest stages.

Overtaking Messi — a living legend and his declared idol — carries special symbolism: the Frenchman becomes the new numerical benchmark in World Cup history, though the Argentine could still respond should he feature in what may be a farewell final.

For France, however, the night ended in disappointment: despite their talisman's brace, Les Bleus were beaten in the consolation semi-final and finish fourth, while Saka's England savoured a memorable result. Mbappé, though, leaves with a record that will endure.

Sources

• AP News — Kylian Mbappé passes Lionel Messi for career World Cup scoring record with 22 goals: https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-france-mbappe-golden-boot-messi-9dd47a1df1469c84cc80a06184fe2732