Mbappe makes World Cup history as Messi loses two of his most treasured records
Kylian Mbappé surpassed Lionel Messi's World Cup goal record during a high-scoring third-place playoff match against England. The game ended in a 6-4 victory for England, concluding a historic tournament for both players.
Why it matters
This marks a generational shift in football, as Mbappé overtakes the records previously held by Messi, defining the current era of the sport.
Kylian Mbappé has once again rewritten football history.The France captain scored twice in a breathtaking 6-4 defeat to England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history while simultaneously moving to the top of the Golden Boot standings ahead of Sunday's final between Argentina and Spain.Although France fell short in a remarkable 10-goal thriller in Miami, Mbappé left the pitch having eclipsed Lionel Messi's long-standing scoring record on football's biggest stage.His brace took him to 22 career World Cup goals, one more than Messi, who had moved into first place earlier in this tournament.
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