Mbappé surpasses Messi’s World Cup goal record as England claim bronze
Kylian Mbappé has become the outright record goalscorer in World Cup history, reaching 22 goals after a double in France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place play-off. This achievement places him ahead of Lionel Messi in the all-time scoring charts. Despite Mbappé’s individual milestone, France were unable to secure third place in the tournament.
Mbappé’s two goals against England also propelled him to 10 goals for the tournament, positioning him as the leader in the Golden Boot race. Messi, with eight goals, would need to score twice in the upcoming final against Spain to potentially surpass Mbappé. Both players are currently tied on four assists, which serves as a tiebreaker in the event of a draw for the Golden Boot.
England’s Performance and Records
England secured third place, marking their best World Cup finish since their victory in 1966. The match against France saw England establish a 4-0 lead by half-time. Bukayo Saka completed a hat-trick with a late penalty, and Jude Bellingham scored England’s sixth goal.
Michael Olise contributed significantly to England’s performance, assisting both of Mbappé’s goals. His seven assists in the tournament broke Pelé’s record for the most assists in a single World Cup, a record that had stood since 1970. The game itself was a high-scoring affair, ending 6-4, and was noted as the sixth men’s World Cup match in history to feature 10 or more goals, and the highest-scoring game since 1982.
Thomas Tuchel, England’s manager, reflected on the team’s achievement, acknowledging the pain of missing out on the final but also highlighting the significance of securing a medal. He stated that the team needs to continue to earn trust on a daily basis in international football, with the Nations League approaching in seven or eight weeks.
The match also saw Dean Henderson start in goal for England, ending a streak of 33 consecutive major-tournament starts for Jordan Pickford. Henderson made several saves in the first half before conceding four goals in the second. This marked England’s first game at a major tournament without Pickford starting in 10 years.
Mbappé and Messi’s Historic Achievements
Mbappé’s record-breaking performance adds to a tournament that has seen several historical milestones. Both Mbappé and Messi have now surpassed Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 goals in the all-time World Cup goalscoring chart.
Other records broken or approached in the tournament include Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the first player to score in six World Cups and also the oldest player to score multiple goals in a game. Messi and Ronaldo also set a record for the most World Cup tournaments played, with six each.
The race for the Golden Boot has been intense, with top contenders like Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham scoring seven goals each, and Harry Kane scoring six. Only three players in World Cup history—Just Fontaine (1958), Gerd Muller (1970), and Sandor Kocsis (1954)—have previously hit double figures in a single tournament.
Didier Deschamps, the departing France manager, reflected on his 14-year tenure, expressing pride in his service to the team. He wished the French team and the new head coach success, emphasizing the potential and talent within the squad to continue achieving at a high level and win new titles.
The upcoming World Cup final will feature Argentina against Spain at MetLife Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm ET.
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Source: skysports.com
