Mbappe breaks Lionel Messi’s record to become FIFA World Cup all-time top scorer

Mbappe breaks Lionel Messi’s record to become FIFA World Cup all-time top scorer

France captain Kylian Mbappe has made football history by becoming the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Lionel Messi’s long-standing record with another remarkable display at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mbappe reached the historic milestone after scoring twice in France’s thrilling 6-4 defeat to England in Saturday’s third-place playoff, taking his career World Cup tally to 22 goals. The achievement moved him one goal ahead of Messi, who has 21 goals and was due to feature in the tournament final for Argentina against Spain.

Although France failed to secure the bronze medal, Mbappe’s individual performance stole the spotlight as he continued his extraordinary run in football’s biggest competition.

After France went into halftime trailing 4-0, Didier Deschamps’ side produced a spirited response in the second half. Mbappe opened France’s scoring three minutes after the restart with a composed finish before Bradley Barcola added a second to reduce the deficit.

The French captain struck again in the 66th minute after a well-worked move involving Michael Olise, calmly finding the net to register his 10th goal of the 2026 World Cup and rewrite the tournament’s all-time scoring record.

The brace also strengthened Mbappe’s position in the race for the Golden Boot, extending his lead over Messi with one match remaining in the tournament.

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Beyond becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, Mbappe also became the first player since Germany legend Gerd Müller in 1970 to score at least 10 goals in a single FIFA World Cup tournament, highlighting his dominance throughout the competition.

Football analysts have described the achievement as another landmark in the career of the Real Madrid forward, who has consistently delivered on the biggest stage since making his World Cup debut in 2018. His pace, clinical finishing and ability to perform in high-pressure matches have established him as one of the greatest players of his generation.

Despite Mbappe’s heroics, France could not complete their comeback as England held on to claim victory in one of the highest-scoring matches of the tournament.

With 22 World Cup goals already to his name and still in the prime of his career, Mbappe is widely expected to extend his record in future editions of the competition, setting a benchmark that could stand for many years.

Top five all-time FIFA World Cup goalscorers

1. Kylian Mbappe (France) — 22 goals
2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) — 21 goals
3. Miroslav Klose (Germany) — 16 goals
4. Ronaldo Nazario (Brazil) — 15 goals
5. Gerd Müller (Germany) — 14 goals

Mbappe’s latest feat further cements his place among football’s greatest players and adds another chapter to an already remarkable international career. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws to a close, the French forward’s record-breaking exploits are set to remain one of the defining stories of the tournament.

Mbappe breaks Lionel Messi’s record to become FIFA World Cup all-time top scorer