Kylian Mbappe Surpasses Messi in Golden Boot Race at FIFA World Cup 2026

Mbappe's Historic Performance in World Cup 2026

In a thrilling third-place match held in Miami, France's captain Kylian Mbappe outshone Lionel Messi in the race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot by netting two goals during France's 6-4 loss to England. This performance elevated Mbappe's total goals in the tournament to 10, placing him two goals ahead of Messi, who has scored eight.

Throughout the tournament, Mbappe showcased his scoring prowess with hat-tricks against Senegal, Iraq, and Sweden, along with a penalty against Paraguay and the opening goal against Morocco. His two goals in the bronze medal match against England further solidified his position.

Remarkably, with his brace against England, Mbappe not only took the lead in the Golden Boot race but also became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, amassing 22 goals in just 22 matches, surpassing Messi's tally of 21 goals from 33 appearances.

After trailing 4-0 at halftime, France made a strong 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, equaling Messi's previous record.

Mbappe's second goal came in the 66th minute, following a goal from Bradley Barcola, narrowing England's lead to 4-3 and intensifying the competition for the Golden Boot.

The match began with England dominating, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute, followed by Ezri Konsa in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka then scored twice in quick succession, marking a historic moment for France as they conceded four goals in a single half of a World Cup match for the first time.

However, the second half saw a remarkable turnaround. Didier Deschamps, in his final game as France's coach, made tactical adjustments that ignited a comeback. Mbappe scored early in the half, followed by Barcola, bringing the score to 4-2. Mbappe's second goal further pressured England.

Despite France's resurgence, England regained control late in the match when Saka converted an 87th-minute penalty for his hat-trick, restoring a two-goal lead. Ousmane Dembele's late goal in the 90+6th minute kept France's hopes alive, but Jude Bellingham sealed England's 6-4 victory with a stoppage-time goal, securing the bronze medal for the Three Lions.