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England beat France 6-4 in an absolutely wild 2026 World Cup third-place match. Bukayo Saka recorded a hat trick and Jude Bellingham came off the bench to put the game away in the 98th minute in a game that immediately became a part of World Cup history.
The game was not only the highest scoring game of the 2026 tournament but was also the fifth highest scoring game in World Cup history. And on top of that Kylian Mbappe etched his name in history during the loss by becoming the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer.
MORE: Kylian Mbappe ran faster than Tyreek Hill during France’s World Cup win
After England took a 4-0 lead in the first half, Mbappe got France on the board minutes into the second half. He then scored again in the 66th minute to get France back within one. While Les Bleus weren’t able to complete the comeback, Mbappe’s two goals gave him the lead in the race for the Golden Boot. He came into the match tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the lead with eight.
Mbappe’s 10 goals in this tournament are tied for the third highest total in a single World Cup. Just Fontaine who was once the tournament’s all-time leading scorer, had 13 goals for France in 1958. Sandor Kocsis scored 11 in five matches for Hungary in 1954 and Gerd Muller had 10 in six matches for West Germany in 1970.
In total Mbappe has now scored 22 goals in 22 games over three World Cups. He came into the match trailing Messi by one goal.
Lionel Messi has appeared in every World Cup since 2006. Messi scored 21 goals in 33 World Cup matches over the course of six different tournaments. This may well be his last chance to take back the lead from Mbappe.
While the French star isn’t young enough to have been bathed by the Argentinian, he is still a dozen years younger. Considering Messi has scored eight goals in this tournament and helped lead his country to their second consecutive final, you’d be foolish to think he won’t be back. He may retire between now and then, but he hasn’t ruled out the 2030 World Cup yet, even if he will turn 43 during group play.
Mbappe will definitely be there. Just ask him.
If Messi wants the Golden Boot, he’s going to need quite a performance in the final. He’ll need to score twice against Spain. If he wants to be the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer for four more years, he’s going to need at least one. If he wants to win his second straight World Cup, well, one or two certainly won’t hurt Argentina’s cause. All things considered, another World Cup is a pretty good consolation prize.
Continue reading...
The game was not only the highest scoring game of the 2026 tournament but was also the fifth highest scoring game in World Cup history. And on top of that Kylian Mbappe etched his name in history during the loss by becoming the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Mbappe makes history
MORE: Kylian Mbappe ran faster than Tyreek Hill during France’s World Cup win
After England took a 4-0 lead in the first half, Mbappe got France on the board minutes into the second half. He then scored again in the 66th minute to get France back within one. While Les Bleus weren’t able to complete the comeback, Mbappe’s two goals gave him the lead in the race for the Golden Boot. He came into the match tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the lead with eight.
Mbappe’s 10 goals in this tournament are tied for the third highest total in a single World Cup. Just Fontaine who was once the tournament’s all-time leading scorer, had 13 goals for France in 1958. Sandor Kocsis scored 11 in five matches for Hungary in 1954 and Gerd Muller had 10 in six matches for West Germany in 1970.
In total Mbappe has now scored 22 goals in 22 games over three World Cups. He came into the match trailing Messi by one goal.
More pressure on Messi
Lionel Messi has appeared in every World Cup since 2006. Messi scored 21 goals in 33 World Cup matches over the course of six different tournaments. This may well be his last chance to take back the lead from Mbappe.
While the French star isn’t young enough to have been bathed by the Argentinian, he is still a dozen years younger. Considering Messi has scored eight goals in this tournament and helped lead his country to their second consecutive final, you’d be foolish to think he won’t be back. He may retire between now and then, but he hasn’t ruled out the 2030 World Cup yet, even if he will turn 43 during group play.
Mbappe will definitely be there. Just ask him.
If Messi wants the Golden Boot, he’s going to need quite a performance in the final. He’ll need to score twice against Spain. If he wants to be the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer for four more years, he’s going to need at least one. If he wants to win his second straight World Cup, well, one or two certainly won’t hurt Argentina’s cause. All things considered, another World Cup is a pretty good consolation prize.
Continue reading...
