LANGGAMPOS.COM — Kylian Mbappe has officially cemented his status as the most prolific goalscorer in World Cup history.
The French talisman netted a brace during Les Bleus' third-place playoff match against England on Saturday, bringing his career tournament total to an unprecedented 22 goals.
While France ultimately fell short against a clinical English side in Miami, Mbappe’s individual brilliance stole the headlines.
By finding the back of the net twice, the 27-year-old forward officially bypassed Argentine icon Lionel Messi, who previously held the tournament record with 21 goals.
A Meteoric Rise to Football Immortality
Mbappe’s journey to the pinnacle of World Cup history has been nothing short of extraordinary. The Frenchman burst onto the global stage as a roaring 19-year-old during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
He scored four goals during that debut campaign, playing a pivotal role in guiding France to their second world title.
Four years later, at the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe elevated his game to another level.
He claimed the Golden Boot with eight goals, famously scoring a hat-trick in the final, though France narrowly missed out on defending their crown against Argentina.
The 2026 tournament saw the Real Madrid forward in peak devastating form, racking up a staggering 10 goals across the competition.
Even though Didier Deschamps' men saw their championship dreams dashed in the semifinals, finishing fourth overall, Mbappe's personal campaign concluded with a historic milestone.
The Messi Factor: A Record Still in Jeopardy
Despite Mbappe’s historic feat, the race for the title of the absolute World Cup top scorer remains far from over.
Lionel Messi has a golden opportunity to reclaim his throne almost immediately. The legendary Argentine captain is scheduled to lead his country against Spain in the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup final on Monday.
The Stakes: Messi currently sits just one goal behind Mbappe with 21 goals.
Should the Inter Miami star score a brace against Spain, his tally will rise to 23, instantly snatching the record back.
However, if the Spanish defense manages to keep Messi quiet, Mbappe will officially wrap up the 2026 tournament as the undisputed king of World Cup goalscorers.
This article was released under the title: Kylian Mbappe Makes History Despite France Defeat to England
(*)
#FAQ:
How many World Cup goals does Mbappe have now?
Kylian Mbappe has scored a total of 22 goals across three World Cup tournaments (2018, 2022, and 2026).
Who held the most World Cup goals record before Kylian Mbappe broke it?
Argentina's Lionel Messi held the previous modern record with 21 goals, which Mbappe surpassed during the 2026 third-place playoff.
Can Lionel Messi still overtake Kylian Mbappe's record?
Yes. Messi enters the 2026 World Cup final against Spain with 21 goals. If he scores two goals in the final, he will retake the lead with 23 goals.
How many goals did Mbappe score in the 2026 World Cup?
Mbappe enjoyed his most prolific tournament yet, scoring 10 goals throughout the 2026 edition in North America.
Tags:
Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, World Cup 2026, France Football, England vs France, World Cup Records, Golden Boot, Football News, FIFA World Cup All Time Top Scorer, Les Bleus
