Guinness World Records has officially congratulated Kylian Mbappe after the France captain became the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. The world-record authority acknowledged the achievement following France's dramatic third-place playoff against England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mbappe Surpasses Messi's Record
Mbappe's tally of 22 World Cup goals moved him ahead of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who previously held the record with 21. The Real Madrid star reached the milestone during the second half of a wild encounter that ended in a 6-4 victory for England, with France missing out on the bronze medal.
According to Guinness World Records, the feat was recognized as a new benchmark in football history. Mbappe's achievement came in a match that became the highest-scoring FIFA World Cup game since 1982 and set a new record for the most goals ever scored in a World Cup third-place playoff, per EUROnews.
England's Historic Victory
England stormed into a commanding 4-0 lead before the break thanks to goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and a Bukayo Saka brace, as reported by ESPN. France responded strongly after the restart, with Mbappe scoring twice and substitute Bradley Barcola adding another goal to cut the deficit to one. Saka restored England's advantage from the penalty spot to complete his hat trick, while Ousmane Dembele made it 5-4 deep into stoppage time. Jude Bellingham then produced a brilliant solo effort in the closing moments to secure England's victory, their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966.
Historic Individual Achievement
Although France missed out on the bronze medal, Mbappe left the tournament with a historic individual achievement that further strengthens his place among the greatest players in World Cup history. Legit.ng earlier reported that Mbappe became the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history after breaking Messi's long-standing record during Les Bleus' third-place playoff against England on Saturday, July 18. Mbappe reached the milestone despite France suffering a dramatic 6-4 defeat in a thrilling encounter at Miami Stadium.
