Kylian Mbappé has leapfrogged Lionel Messi on the all-time World Cup goal-scoring chart as he scored his 21st and 22nd career goals in the competition during France‘s third-place playoff against England on Saturday.
France endured a nightmare first half as they trailed 4-0 after the opening 45 minutes. But Mbappé’s first-time finish in the 48th minute prompted a thrilling comeback from Les Bleus, with Bradley Barcola cutting England’s lead to two before the France captain found the back of the net again in the 66th minute.
Having scored a hat trick in Argentina‘s tournament opener, Messi moved beyond previous record goal scorer Miroslav Klose by netting twice against Austria. He added to his tally against Jordan, Cape Verde and Egypt, but Mbappé has now surpassed the Argentine’s achievement.
The Real Madrid forward’s brace also gives him the edge over Messi in the tournament’s Golden Boot race. Mbappé has scored 10 goals in North America, while Messi sits on eight.
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Mbappé burst on to the World Cup scene in 2018 where he earned the Young Player of the Tournament award, scored four goals and helped France win the trophy.
The 27-year-old scored a hat trick in the final four years later but couldn’t stop Messi from inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory.
Messi famously struggled to convert his Barcelona form onto the international scene during the early part of his career but has hit his stride in the World Cup.
He fulfilled what many saw as his destiny by lifting the World Cup in Qatar four years ago, eight years after tasting defeat in the final against Germany in 2014.
Now 39 and playing in his sixth World Cup, Messi has the chance to take the record back from Mbappé when he leads out his country in Sunday’s final against Spain.
