Kylian Mbappe Surpasses Messi in Golden Boot Race and World Cup Scoring Record

In a thrilling encounter, Kylian Mbappe scored twice against England, surpassing Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race and becoming the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history. Despite France's 6-4 defeat, Mbappe's remarkable performance highlighted his scoring prowess throughout the tournament. England's strong first half set the stage for a dramatic second half, where France attempted a comeback. This article delves into the match details and Mbappe's record-breaking achievements.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 19, 2026, 06:18 IST

Mbappe Surpasses Messi for Golden Boot and All-Time Goals Record

Kylian Mbappe, the captain of France, has taken the lead over Lionel Messi in the chase for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot. This shift occurred after he netted two goals during France's 6-4 loss to England in the third-place match held in Miami on Saturday. With these two goals, Mbappe's total for the tournament reached 10, placing him two goals ahead of Messi, who has scored eight.

Throughout the tournament, Mbappe has showcased his scoring prowess with hat-tricks and braces against teams like Senegal, Iraq, and Sweden, in addition to a penalty against Paraguay and the opening goal against Morocco. His performance in the bronze medal match included two more goals against England.

In a remarkable achievement, Mbappe's brace against England allowed him to surpass Messi, making him the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. His overall tally now stands at 22 goals in just 22 matches, while Messi has 21 goals from 33 appearances.

Mbappe's Historic Goals

After trailing 4-0 at halftime, France made a comeback just three minutes into the second half. Dayot Upamecano delivered a precise pass into the penalty area, where Mbappe maintained his composure and slotted the ball into the bottom-right corner, leveling with Messi's previous record of 21 goals.

His second goal came in the 66th minute, following a goal from Bradley Barcola in the 54th minute, narrowing England's lead to 4-3. This goal not only positioned Mbappe as the frontrunner for the Golden Boot but also solidified his status as the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history. The goal was a result of a well-executed play, with Michael Olise providing a clever flick that set up Mbappe for a left-footed finish past goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

England Secures Bronze in High-Scoring Match

In the match itself, England started strong, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead that left the French team reeling. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute, followed by Ezri Konsa doubling the lead in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka then made headlines with two goals in quick succession, one in the 37th minute and another during first-half stoppage time, marking the first time France conceded four goals in a single World Cup half.

However, the second half saw a dramatic shift. Didier Deschamps, in his final match as France's coach, made tactical adjustments at halftime that ignited a comeback. Mbappe scored shortly after the break, followed by Barcola's goal, bringing the score to 4-2. Mbappe's second goal further intensified the match, making it 4-3 and putting pressure on England.

Despite France's resurgence, England regained control late in the game when Saka converted a penalty in the 87th minute to complete his hat-trick, restoring a two-goal lead. Ousmane Dembele's goal in the 90+6th minute kept France's hopes alive, but Jude Bellingham sealed England's thrilling 6-4 victory with a stoppage-time goal in the 90+8th minute, ensuring the Three Lions finished their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a bronze medal.