Mbappé equals Messi's all-time WCup goal record
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- Kylian Mbappé scored his 21st and 22nd career World Cup goals during France's 6-4 defeat to England, moving ahead of Lionel Messi on the all-time tournament scoring list.
- France mounted a comeback from 4-0 down in the third-place playoff, scoring four goals in the second half, including two by Mbappé, before falling short.
- England secured third place with a 6-4 win over France, powered by a hat trick from Bukayo Saka and a goal from Jude Bellingham in a high-scoring clash.
- Lionel Messi now trails Mbappé with 20 World Cup goals and has a chance to reclaim the record if he scores in Sunday’s final against Spain.
- Mbappé stated he would have preferred to play in the final rather than hold the all-time scoring record, emphasizing team success over individual milestones.
Why it matters: Mbappé now holds the World Cup’s all-time scoring record with 22 goals, a tangible edge over Messi in legacy metrics, but the record comes without a final appearance—undermining its prestige for the player himself and highlighting the tension between individual achievement and team success at the highest level.
