Kylian Mbappe Becomes All-Time Leading Goalscorer in FIFA World Cup History

Mbappe Surpasses Messi in World Cup Goals

In a remarkable achievement, Kylian Mbappe, the captain of the French national team, has made history by becoming the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Lionel Messi. This milestone was reached during the third-place playoff against England in Miami, where Mbappe netted two goals in the second half.

With these goals, Mbappe's World Cup total now stands at 22, placing him ahead of Messi, who has scored 21.

France, trailing 4-0 at halftime, made a swift comeback just three minutes into the second half. Dayot Upamecano delivered a precise pass into the box, allowing Mbappe to calmly slot the ball into the bottom-right corner, leveling his tally with Messi's.

His second goal came in the 66th minute, following a goal from Bradley Barcola, narrowing England's lead to 4-3 and solidifying Mbappe's status as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

The goal was a result of a well-executed play, with Michael Olise providing a clever flick that set up Mbappe, who then finished with a powerful left-footed shot past goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Miroslav Klose held the record for the most goals in the tournament's history. However, Messi had recently surpassed him after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's opening match against Algeria, followed by additional goals in subsequent matches.

Entering the 2026 tournament with 12 World Cup goals, Mbappe had already scored eight before the playoff against England. His two goals in this match brought his total to 10 for the current edition, placing him at the top of the Golden Boot race, ahead of Messi, who has eight.