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Kylian Mbappe has broken Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record after netting twice against England in the third-place play-off of this year’s tournament.

The French captain, wearing the iconic No. 10 shirt, lifted his career total to 22 goals on football’s grandest stage, adding 10 goals during this summer’s competition and overtaking Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.

Remarkably, Mbappe has achieved this feat in just 22 World Cup appearances, whereas the Argentine legend needed 32 matches to set his previous benchmark. This gives Mbappe a phenomenal average of one goal per game at the World Cup—an unprecedented rate of consistency and excellence.

Having featured prominently in the 2018, 2022, and 2026 editions of the tournament—including one title win and two appearances in the final—Mbappe continues to build an extraordinary legacy for France.

Now 27, Mbappe captained France throughout the North American campaign, having been appointed skipper by Didier Deschamps in 2023. Despite a challenging season with Real Madrid and concerns over his fitness heading into the tournament, he has once again proven his ability to deliver on the world stage.

During the competition, Mbappe also overtook Olivier Giroud to become France’s all-time leading scorer, further cementing his place among football’s elite.

However, his record may still be under threat, as Messi will have the opportunity to respond in the upcoming final against Spain. The veteran forward is eager to reclaim the title and guide Argentina to back-to-back World Cup triumphs.

Even so, with Mbappe being 12 years younger than Messi, the French star could potentially feature in two or even three more World Cup cycles, giving him ample opportunity to extend his remarkable record even further.