Kylian Mbappé dethrones Lionel Messi in Golden Boot race after breaking World Cup goals record | Football News

Kylian Mbappé equals Lionel Messi’s World Cup goals record and leads the way for the Golden Boot/ Picture: AP

Kylian Mbappé put himself in pole position to win the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after scoring twice against England in the third-place playoff, a performance that also saw him break. Lionel MessiThe all-time World Cup goalscoring record.France eventually suffered a dramatic 6-4 loss to England in a stunning 10-goal thriller in Miami, but Mbappé still walked away with the biggest individual achievement of the afternoon. His brace took him to 10 goals and four assists for the tournament, moving him clear of Messi, who heads into Sunday’s final against Spain with eight goals and four assists.The turnaround underscores why the World Cup’s third-place playoff, despite often being labeled a consolation fixture, can still have a major impact on football’s biggest individual honor.

The third place playoff changed the race for the Golden Boot

Before Saturday’s game, Messi led the Golden Boot standings.The Argentina captain stepped up after his incredible semifinal performance against England, making two assists in Argentina’s 2-1 win to sit on eight goals and four assists. Mbappé, on the other hand, had eight goals and three assists after France’s semifinal loss to Spain.With France still having one official FIFA match left, Mbappé has one last chance to overtake his longtime rival.He did exactly that.

Kylian Mbappe (10) of France scores his team’s 3rd goal during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

England raced to a stunning 4-0 halftime lead through Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and a Bukayo Saka brace, leaving France facing a humiliating defeat.Mbappé ignited the comeback three minutes after the start, finishing confidently in the 48th minute to make it 4-1.Bradley Barcola added France’s second in the 54th minute before Mbappé struck again in the 66th minute, cutting England’s advantage to 4-3 and dramatically changing the race for the Golden Boot.England eventually grabbed a third through Saka’s penalty in the 87th minute, before Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back in stoppage time to make it 5-4. Jude Bellingham then sealed the result with a late goal to complete the 6-4 scoreline, but Mbappé’s individual achievements remained the biggest talking point.

Updated Golden Boot standings

Mbappé’s brace left the race looking very different heading into the World Cup final.

With the tournament in France over, Mbappé’s tally is complete.Messi, however, has one game remaining against Spain and could even reduce or overturn the deficit in Sunday’s World Cup final.

Historical records are collapsing

Mbappé’s second goal meant more than just the Golden Boot standings.The France captain moved to 22 career World Cup goals, surpassing Messi to become the top goalscorer in World Cup history.Even more remarkable, the Real Madrid forward reached that number in just 22 World Cup games, averaging exactly one goal per game. Messi reached 21 goals after 31 appearances before adding another during Argentina’s run to this year’s final.

France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates scoring his team’s third goal as England’s Jarell Quansah (26) looks on during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Mbappé also became the outright record holder for most non-penalty goals in World Cup history, surpassing Messi’s previous mark of 17 with 19.

Saturday’s drama once again underscored why the third-place playoff remains more important than many thought.Although it only decides the bronze medal, it is an official FIFA World Cup fixture, which means that every goal, assist and minute played counts towards individual awards such as the Golden Boot.History shows how influential the game was. France legend Just Fontaine famously scored four times in the 1958 third-place playoff against West Germany to finish with an unprecedented 13 goals in a World Cup.In 1998, Croatia’s Davor Šuker scored the winner against the Netherlands in the bronze medal match to win the Golden Boot with six goals.The same scenario unfolded in 2010, when Thomas Müller, David Villa, Wesley Sneijder and Diego Forlán all finished with five goals. Müller scored in Germany’s 3-2 win over Uruguay in the third-place playoff, while Forlán also found the net in that game, but Müller claimed the Golden Boot as his three assists gave him the edge over the other contenders.The 2026 edition has now created another defining moment in the race.Thanks to two goals in the 48th and 66th minutes against England, Mbappé changed the standings, controlling the race for the Golden Boot while simultaneously becoming the most goalscorer ever seen in the World Cup.Only Messi, with one final match left to play against Spain, now has the chance to deny him both honours.