Mbappe is back on track to defend his Golden Boot title, which he has exchanged with Messi throughout the tournament.
Published July 18, 2026
France’s Kylian Mbappé scored his 22nd World Cup goal in the final game of the tournament against England, breaking the all-time scoring record and cementing his place as the world’s best striker.
England will escape the World Cup in third place after defeating France 6-4 in a thrilling bronze medal match in Miami on Saturday.
The 2018 champions got off to a dismal start to the World Cup, 4-0 at halftime, while playing calmly against a much-changed England team.
Mbappé, France’s 27-year-old captain, was in the lead, scoring in the 48th minute to rebuild his side and equal Lionel Messi for the most goals in a World Cup (21) and most in any tournament so far (9).
France were inspired and Bradley Barcola scored six minutes later, before Mbappé returned to attack and scored in the 66th minute to become the world’s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals and the most in the tournament with 10.
Mbappe is back on track to defend the Golden Boot title he has exchanged with Messi throughout the tournament.
The 39-year-old Argentine will likely be making his last World Cup appearance but will have his last chance to wrest the award from Mbappe when he faces Spain in Sunday’s final.
Elsewhere in the match, Ousmane Dembélé scored his sixth World Cup goal, France’s fourth and winning goal against England, and there were outstanding performances from Bukayo Saka, who scored a hat-trick against England.
Jude Bellingham scored his sixth and seventh goal for the Three Lions, completing the podium at the World Cup and becoming England’s top scorer at the tournament.
