Mbappé just buried Messi's World Cup scoring record with 22 career goals, and he did it during a 6-4 loss that France probably wishes it could forget. The 27-year-old netted twice at Hard Rock Stadium in the third-place play-off against England, pushing his 2026 tournament haul to 10 and leapfrogging Messi's previous mark of 21.
Three World Cups built this. Russia in 2018 as a trophy-lifting teenager, Qatar in 2022, and a dominant North American run this summer. The match itself set a 2026 finals record for combined goals. Saka grabbed a hat-trick, Bellingham hit seven tournament goals as a midfielder, and Olise racked up seven assists.
Reports suggested Mbappé would have swapped the milestone for a shot at the actual title. The night also closed out Didier Deschamps' 14-year, 185-match tenure as France coach. Both squads shared a quiet moment on the pitch after the whistle, and Mbappé walked away sitting alone atop the all-time scoring list with room to add more.
Three World Cups built this. Russia in 2018 as a trophy-lifting teenager, Qatar in 2022, and a dominant North American run this summer. The match itself set a 2026 finals record for combined goals. Saka grabbed a hat-trick, Bellingham hit seven tournament goals as a midfielder, and Olise racked up seven assists.
Reports suggested Mbappé would have swapped the milestone for a shot at the actual title. The night also closed out Didier Deschamps' 14-year, 185-match tenure as France coach. Both squads shared a quiet moment on the pitch after the whistle, and Mbappé walked away sitting alone atop the all-time scoring list with room to add more.
