Kylian Mbappé became the leading scorer in men’s World Cup history after scoring twice in France’s 6-4 third-place playoff defeat by England. His goals raised his career tournament total to 22, one more than Argentina’s Lionel Messi, and put him in front in the race for the 2026 Golden Boot.

France entered half-time four goals behind after England scored through Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and twice through Bukayo Saka. Mbappé began the response after the interval, and Bradley Barcola also scored as France narrowed the margin to 4-3. The comeback forced England to protect a lead that had initially appeared secure.

Saka then converted a penalty to finish his own hat-trick. Ousmane Dembélé scored France’s fourth during added time, but Jude Bellingham completed the 6-4 result in the 98th minute. The match became the highest-scoring third-place contest in World Cup history and left France fourth.

Mbappé’s brace also took him to at least ten goals in the 2026 edition and strengthened his position at the front of the Golden Boot race. His two goals were not enough to earn a medal, but they changed the competition’s career scoring order and added to his individual tournament total before the final.

The record came during a second half in which France attacked with greater freedom and accepted greater risk. England manager Thomas Tuchel said France entered its full flow and came close to an equaliser before his side restored its advantage. England’s first-half efficiency ultimately left too large a deficit despite France scoring four times.

The same match generated several individual landmarks. Saka became the second England player after Geoff Hurst to score a World Cup knockout hat-trick, while Bellingham’s seventh goal was an England record for one edition. Those achievements framed Mbappé’s milestone within an unusually high-scoring game rather than a standalone scoring attempt.

Mbappé’s position as the all-time leader was based on cumulative World Cup finals goals and the 22-goal figure reported after the playoff. Available reporting did not state whether another player could equal or pass his ten-goal 2026 total in the final, so the Golden Boot remained described as a race rather than a confirmed award. France’s team result and Mbappé’s individual record therefore pointed in opposite directions: elimination from medal contention alongside a new career benchmark.

England’s bronze-medal result was its best men’s World Cup finish since the 1966 championship, adding a team consequence to the scoring records. Mbappé, meanwhile, left the match without a top-three finish despite moving ahead of every previous World Cup scorer. The contrast illustrates why personal milestones and tournament placement must be reported separately.