yesdaida news

By Vikram Iyer — 19 July 2026 — 3 min read

Mbappé’s Historic Achievement

Kylian Mbappé of France has made history by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. This achievement occurred during France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff match. Mbappé scored two goals in the match, bringing his total career World Cup goals to 22, surpassing Lionel Messi’s previous record.

The match, held in Miami, saw Mbappé’s brace not only secure him the all-time scoring record but also place him at the top of the Golden Boot standings. He now has 10 goals in the 2026 World Cup, moving ahead of Messi, who had eight goals after the semi-finals.

The Thrilling Third-Place Playoff

The third-place playoff was a high-scoring affair, with England initially taking a significant lead. Declan Rice scored in the third minute, followed by Ezri Konsa in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka added a brace in the first half, scoring in the 37th minute and again in first-half stoppage time, giving England a 4-0 lead at halftime.

France mounted a comeback in the second half, with Mbappé initiating the scoring three minutes in. Bradley Barcola further reduced the deficit in the 54th minute. Mbappé scored his second goal in the 66th minute, making the score 4-3 and securing his place as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. England eventually sealed their victory with Saka completing his hat-trick from a penalty in the 87th minute, and Jude Bellingham scoring a solo goal in the 98th minute, resulting in a 6-4 win for England.

Mbappé’s two goals also mean he has scored 19 non-penalty goals in World Cup history, exceeding Messi’s total of 17 in that category. The 27-year-old has maintained an impressive average of one goal per game across the 2018, 2022, and 2026 tournaments, having played in 22 World Cup appearances.

Golden Boot Race Intensifies

Mbappé’s performance significantly impacted the Golden Boot race. Before the third-place playoff, Messi led with eight goals and four assists, while Mbappé had eight goals and three assists. Following the match, Mbappé now leads with 10 goals and four assists.

The current standings for the Golden Boot are:

• Kylian Mbappé (France): 10 goals, 4 assists
• Lionel Messi (Argentina): 8 goals, 4 assists
• Jude Bellingham (England): 7 goals, 1 assist
• Ousmane Dembélé (France): 6 goals, 2 assists
• Harry Kane (England): 6 goals, 1 assist

Despite Mbappé’s current lead, the Golden Boot race is not yet concluded. Messi is set to lead Argentina in the World Cup final against Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. This match offers the 39-year-old Messi a final chance to add to his goal tally and potentially reclaim both the tournament scoring record and the Golden Boot.

Mbappé’s World Cup journey includes winning the 2018 title and reaching the 2022 final, where he scored a hat-trick. He has also surpassed Olivier Giroud to become France’s all-time leading scorer. His latest achievements further solidify his remarkable career. Messi, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, has played in six World Cup tournaments, and Ronaldo is the first player to score in six World Cups.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com