France captain Kylian Mbappé etched his name into football history on Saturday after becoming the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, taking his tally to 22 goals.

The Real Madrid forward reached the landmark after scoring his second goal in France’s thrilling 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place play-off at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The brace moved him ahead of Argentina legend Lionel Messi, who had held the record with 21 World Cup goals.

Although France finished fourth in the tournament, Mbappé’s individual achievement became one of the defining moments of the competition.

The 27-year-old has now scored 22 World Cup goals across three tournaments:

2018 (Russia): 4 goals

2022 (Qatar): 8 goals

2026 (United States, Canada and Mexico): 10 goals

His remarkable consistency has cemented his place among the greatest players in World Cup history.

Mbappé’s milestone came during one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches.

England defeated France 6-4 to claim the bronze medal after a breathtaking encounter featuring 10 goals. Bukayo Saka starred for England with a hat-trick, while Mbappé scored twice in France’s spirited second-half fightback.

Despite setting a new World Cup scoring record, Mbappé admitted that he would have preferred competing in the tournament final rather than celebrating an individual milestone.

His comments reflected the disappointment of missing out on another opportunity to lift football’s biggest prize with France.

Already a World Cup winner from France’s 2018 triumph, Mbappé continues to build one of the most remarkable international careers in modern football.

With age still on his side, many football analysts believe the French captain could extend his record in future World Cup appearances, further raising the benchmark for generations to come.

Breaking the FIFA World Cup’s all-time scoring record places Mbappé among the sport’s greatest-ever players.

While team success remains the ultimate objective, his latest milestone highlights a career defined by remarkable consistency on football’s biggest stage.

England produced a remarkable attacking display to defeat France 6-4 in a dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off, ending their campaign with a bronze medal after one of the highest-scoring matches in the tournament’s history. 

The match, played in Miami, saw England race into a commanding first-half lead before surviving a spirited French comeback in a pulsating contest that delivered 10 goals and entertained football fans around the world. 

Thomas Tuchel’s side made an explosive start, taking control of the match with goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and a brilliant first-half brace from Bukayo Saka.

England entered the break with a commanding 4-0 advantage, leaving France with a mountain to climb after a disappointing opening 45 minutes. 

France emerged from the interval with renewed energy.

Captain Kylian Mbappé sparked the revival with an early goal before Bradley Barcola reduced the deficit further. Mbappé then struck again to bring France within touching distance as England’s comfortable lead suddenly looked vulnerable. 

The French comeback gathered momentum late in the game when Ousmane Dembélé also found the net, reducing the score to 5-4 and setting up a tense finish. 

With France pressing for an equaliser, Bukayo Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to restore England’s cushion before Jude Bellingham added a sixth goal deep into stoppage time, ensuring the Three Lions secured third place. 

Saka’s outstanding performance earned widespread praise as he finished the tournament with one of England’s finest individual displays. 

Despite France’s defeat, Mbappé enjoyed a memorable evening personally.

His two goals further strengthened his position among the tournament’s leading scorers and added another chapter to his remarkable World Cup career. 

Although England fell short of reaching the World Cup final after their semi-final defeat to Argentina, the bronze medal represents the country’s best World Cup finish in decades and provides encouragement for manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of future international competitions. 

For France, the defeat concludes a campaign that promised much but ultimately ended without silverware, despite another impressive tournament from Mbappé. 

While the third-place play-off does not carry the prestige of the World Cup final, England’s victory demonstrated the team’s attacking quality and resilience.

The match will also be remembered as one of the most entertaining encounters of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with ten goals, dramatic momentum swings and standout individual performances.

MIAMI, United States — Two of Europe’s football powerhouses, England and France, will meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off as both nations look to end their campaigns with a place on the tournament podium after suffering painful semi-final defeats.

The encounter offers both teams an opportunity to recover from the disappointment of missing out on the final and secure a bronze medal in what will be the closing chapter of their World Cup journeys.

The match is scheduled to take place at Miami Stadium, with both sides hoping to finish the tournament on a positive note.

England reached the semi-final after a strong tournament run but saw their hopes of reaching the final disappear following a 2-1 defeat to Argentina.

The Three Lions, under manager Thomas Tuchel, have been praised for their resilience throughout the competition, but the semi-final loss extended England’s long wait for another World Cup final appearance.

Tuchel has urged his players to turn their disappointment into motivation, insisting that the team still has the opportunity to create history by securing a podium finish.

France, meanwhile, entered the tournament among the favourites but fell short in the semi-final after losing to Spain, ending their hopes of reaching another World Cup final.

For France coach Didier Deschamps, the match carries additional significance as it could be his final appearance in charge of the national team.

The French squad has expressed a desire to finish strongly and honour the coach’s contribution to their recent success.

Although the match is primarily about securing third place, individual honours remain at stake.

France captain Kylian Mbappé enters the contest among the leading contenders for the World Cup Golden Boot, while England stars Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham also remain in contention for the tournament’s top scorer award.

The third-place match could therefore provide another opportunity for some of football’s biggest names to add to their tournament records.

England and France have developed one of football’s most competitive modern rivalries, with both nations regularly competing for major honours.

Their World Cup meetings have been limited, but their most recent encounter at the tournament came in the 2022 quarter-final, when France defeated England in a closely contested match.

This latest meeting offers England a chance for revenge, while France will aim to maintain their recent advantage over their European rivals.

Third-place play-offs often generate debate, with some questioning their importance after the disappointment of losing a semi-final.

However, for players and nations, finishing third at a World Cup remains a significant achievement.

The match provides an opportunity for younger players to gain valuable experience, established stars to add to their legacy, and both teams to leave the tournament with pride intact.

England are expected to rely on their attacking quality and physical strength, while France will look to the pace and creativity of their forward line to cause problems.

With both teams possessing world-class talent and little pressure compared with a final, the match could produce an open contest filled with attacking football.

For England and France, the final whistle will mark the end of their World Cup campaigns but also the beginning of preparations for the next chapter in international football.