Mbappé passes Messi for career World Cup scoring record with 22 goals

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida – Kylian Mbappé broke Lionel Messi's career World Cup scoring record Saturday, scoring twice in a 6-4 loss to England in the third-place match. The France star now has 22 goals, one more than Messi.

Mbappé finished this tournament with 10 goals, two ahead of Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. If he stays ahead after Argentina plays Spain in Sunday's final, he will be the first player to win the award twice. He won it four years ago in Qatar.

“I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history,” Mbappé told Fox Sports in French, “and play in the match tomorrow.”

France trailed 4-0 at halftime before rallying. Mbappé flicked a shot past England goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the 48th minute. He beat Henderson again in the 66th minute with a left-footed strike from about 14 yards, passing Messi's mark of 21.

“There were two very different halves,” Mbappé said. “During the first one, I can understand why some people think we made fools of ourselves and didn't do the jersey justice. I'd say instead that we were human – and we can't afford to be.”

The match was the final game for coach Didier Deschamps, who led France to the 2018 title and the 2022 final. Deschamps said he put the team first and defended Mbappé's character. Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to be confirmed as his successor by the French soccer federation in the coming days.

Mbappé's 10 goals in this World Cup match the third most in a single tournament. Just Fontaine holds the record with 13 in 1958, and Sandor Kocsis scored 11 in 1954. Gerd Müller also had 10 in 1970.