France forward Kylian Mbappe has become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, adding another remarkable achievement to his international career.
The French star scored twice during France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the FIFA World Cup third-place playoff. As a result, he took his overall World Cup tally to 22 goals, moving ahead of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who has scored 21 goals before the tournament final.
Although France missed out on third place, Mbappe’s individual milestone became one of the tournament’s biggest talking points.
Mbappe Moves Ahead of Messi
The 27-year-old reached the historic landmark in just 22 World Cup appearances.
His impressive record includes four goals during the 2018 World Cup and eight goals in the 2022 edition. In the current tournament, he has already scored 10 goals, placing him at the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi sits second with eight goals and still has one opportunity to reduce the gap when Argentina face Spain in the World Cup final.
However, many expect Sunday’s final to be Messi’s last World Cup appearance, while Mbappe could feature in future tournaments.
Golden Boot Race Still Alive
Mbappe currently leads the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot with a two-goal advantage over Messi.
Therefore, the final will determine whether Messi can narrow the difference. Nevertheless, Mbappe has already secured his place in World Cup history with the highest career goal tally in the competition.
The Real Madrid forward has consistently delivered on football’s biggest stage. Consequently, his latest achievement further strengthens his reputation as one of the game’s greatest modern forwards.
Mbappe Focuses on Team Before Personal Records
Despite breaking the all-time scoring record, Mbappe made it clear that team success remains his biggest priority.
Speaking after the match, he said, “Messi is going to score (on Sunday), that’s for sure. I’m just trying to help my team win. When you score a lot of goals at the World Cup, it puts you in a certain category.”
He also admitted that personal milestones could not ease the disappointment of missing the World Cup final.
Mbappe said, “I would have preferred not to be the all-time top scorer and to be playing tomorrow’s match. It’s good in terms of legacy, but today it’s not the first thing on my mind”.
Historic Achievement Despite France’s Defeat
Although France ended its World Cup campaign with defeat, Mbappe’s record-breaking performance ensured his name entered football history once again.
His consistency across three World Cup tournaments highlights his extraordinary scoring ability. Moreover, with age still on his side, the French forward may have further opportunities to extend his record in future editions of the tournament.
For now, Mbappe stands alone as the World Cup’s highest-ever goal scorer, while the race for the Golden Boot continues until the final whistle of the championship match.
