Kylian Mbappé is well placed to win the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after scoring twice against England in the third leg, a game that also saw him break down. Lionel MessiAll-time World Cup goalscoring record.France ended up losing 6-4 to England in a 10-goal thriller in Miami, but Mbappé still walked away with his performance on the afternoon. His bravery took him to 10 goals and four assists in the match, which saw him overtake Messi, who heads into Sunday’s final against Spain with eight goals and four assists.This change shows why the third World Cup, although it is often called a consolation, can also affect football’s greatest honor.
The third round also changes the Golden Boot competition
Before Saturday’s game, Messi led the way for the Golden Boot.The Argentina captain stepped up following his winning display in the semifinal against England, making two assists in Argentina’s 2-1 win to take his tally to eight goals and four assists. Mbappé, meanwhile, had eight goals and three assists in France’s semifinal loss to Spain.With France still to play one FIFA-sanctioned game, Mbappé had one last chance to overtake his old rival.He did the same.
France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) scores his third goal during the third World Cup match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
England raced into a 4-0 half-time lead through Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and a goal from Bukayo Saka, leaving France to a humiliating defeat.Mbappé opened the scoring three minutes after the restart, finishing boldly in the 48th minute to make it 4-1.Bradley Barcola added France’s second in the 54th minute before Mbappé struck again in the 66th minute, cutting England’s lead to 4-3 and dramatically changing the Golden Boot race.England eventually grabbed a third through Saka’s penalty in the 87th minute, before Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back in stoppage time to make it 5-4. Jude Bellingham then sealed the result with a late goal to make it 6-4, but Mbappé’s individual performance remained the main talking point.
Changed the Golden Boot setting
Mbappé’s strike leaves the competition looking very different heading into the World Cup final.
- Kylian Mbappé (France): 10 goals, 4 assists
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): 8 goals, 4 assists
- Jude Bellingham (England): 7 goals, 1 assist
- Ousmane Dembélé (France): 6 goals, 2 assists
- Harry Kane (England): 6 goals, 1 assist
With the French championship now over, Mbappé’s stats are over.Messi, however, still has one match remaining against Spain and could reduce or even drop the remaining points in Sunday’s World Cup final.
History is collapsing
Mbappé’s second goal meant more than just the Golden Boot.The France captain reached 22 goals at the World Cup, surpassing Messi as the top scorer in World Cup history.Most impressively, the Real Madrid player has reached this milestone in 22 World Cup games, averaging one goal per game. Messi reached 21 goals in 31 games before adding another as Argentina raced to this year’s final.
France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates scoring his team’s third goal as England’s Jarell Quansah (26) looks on during the World Cup third round match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Mbappé also became the record holder for most non-penalty goals in World Cup history, surpassing 19 and surpassing Messi’s 17 goals.
Why the third playoff is still important
Saturday’s performance highlighted why the third round is still more important than many realize.Although it only selects the bronze medal, it is an official FIFA World Cup game, meaning that every goal, assist and minutes played count towards awards of all kinds such as the Golden Boot.History has shown how impactful a match can be. Another French star, Just Fontaine, scored four goals in 1958 as they beat West Germany to finish with 13 goals not achieved in a single World Cup.In 1998, Croatia’s Davor Šuker scored the winner against the Netherlands in the bronze medal match to claim the Golden Boot with six goals.The same thing happened in 2010, when Thomas Müller, David Villa, Wesley Sneijder and Diego Forlán all finished on five goals. Müller scored in Germany’s 3-2 win over Uruguay in the third round, with Forlán also finding the net in the match, but Müller took the Golden Boot as his three assists gave him the chance to win more.The 2026 edition has now produced another famous moment in the competition.Thanks to two goals in the 48th and 66th minutes against England, Mbappé turned the tide, taking control of the Golden Boot race while at the same time becoming the best scorer the World Cup has ever seen.Only Messi, who has one final game left to play against Spain, now has the chance to deny him all the honors.