Kylian Mbappé made history once again at the 2026 World Cup. The French forward scored two goals in the third-place match against England, becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, surpassing Lionel Messi and setting a record that could continue to grow in the coming years.
In addition to topping the all-time scoring list, Mbappé also provisionally leads the race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot with ten goals, although Messi will still have one last chance to catch up to him when he faces Spain in the final this Sunday, July 19.
Mbappé Sets a Historic Record
IT’S OFFICIAL: KYLIAN MBAPPÉ IS NOW THE ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER IN WORLD CUP HISTORY!!
It’s a done deal. It’s now completely official, ladies and gentlemen. With his two goals against England, Kylian Mbappé has just surpassed Lionel Messi (21) and is now the TOP SCORER… pic.twitter.com/l9UNdcbFcI
— Invictos (@InvictosSomos) July 18, 2026
According to CNN, the French striker reached 22 World Cup goals after his two-goal performance against England, while the Argentine captain remains at 21 goals ahead of the championship match.
At 27, Mbappé continues to build on a legacy that already ranks him among the greatest legends in international soccer.
His two goals against England not only helped France get back on the scoreboard, but also earned him the all-time goal-scoring record in World Cup history.
According to CNN, the forward has scored 22 goals in just 22 World Cup matches—an extraordinary average that reflects the impact he has had since his debut in the tournament.
During the 2026 World Cup, he scored two goals against Sweden, one against Paraguay in the round of 16, another against Morocco in the quarterfinals, and two more against England in the third-place match.
Messi still has a chance
🗣️ Kylian Mbappé: “I’d rather not be the top scorer and be playing in the final tomorrow.”
HATS OFF 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/pWLV5YD5Xn
— (fan) REAL MADRID FANS 🤍 (@AdriRM33) July 18, 2026
Although Lionel Messi briefly lost his all-time lead, the story isn’t over yet.
The Argentine captain has scored 21 World Cup goals and will play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain this Sunday, where he could tie or even surpass Mbappé once again if he scores.
According to CNN, Messi reached that milestone after scoring against Egypt in the tournament’s knockout stage.
The Argentine is competing in his sixth World Cup, having participated in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 tournaments.
Here are the top 5 all-time goal scorers
🚨🚨| If Kylian Mbappé wins the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot, he will become the 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 player to win the:
→LaLiga Golden Boot
→UEFA Champions League Golden Boot
→FIFA World Cup Golden BootAll in the same season. 🐐🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/BKWy5A1AAu
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) July 18, 2026
Following Saturday’s results, the all-time World Cup scoring leaders stand as follows:
Kylian Mbappé (France): 22 goals.
Lionel Messi (Argentina): 21 goals.
Miroslav Klose (Germany): 16 goals.
Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil): 15 goals.
Gerd Müller (West Germany): 14 goals.
Both Messi and Mbappé have now surpassed Miroslav Klose’s historic record; for years, Klose held the top spot with 16 goals scored across four World Cups.
In addition to the all-time record, Mbappé and Messi are locked in another individual competition: the race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot.
The French player leads the scoring race with ten goals, but the Argentine forward can still catch up to him during the final against Spain, in what could be the last World Cup match of his career.
Regardless of who ends up as the tournament’s top scorer, both players have already left an indelible mark on World Cup history and continue to be at the center of a statistical rivalry that will be remembered for many years to come.
Filed under: Mbappé, World Cup Top Scorer
