Mbappé surpasses Messi as all-time World Cup top scorer and wins Golden Boot

Kylian Mbappé has officially surpassed Lionel Messi to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, finishing the 2026 tournament with 10 goals and a career total of 22 goals across three editions. The French forward secured the Golden Boot with a double in the third-place match against England, which France lost 6-4, while Messi ended with 8 goals after being held scoreless in Argentina's 1-0 final defeat to Spain Source: Infobae.

The goal-scoring race

Mbappé's 10 goals in North America 2026 tied Gerd Müller's record from 1970, second only to Just Fontaine's 13 in 1958 Source: Clarín. He became the first player to win the Golden Boot in two different World Cups, having also topped the scoring charts in 2022 with 8 goals Source: Infobae. Messi, who had led the race early with goals in seven consecutive World Cup matches, went blank in the knockout stages and in the final Source: El Nacional. Jude Bellingham (7 goals) and Erling Haaland (7 goals) rounded out the top scorers, with Bellingham claiming third place on assists Source: Emol.

Historic records

The 2026 World Cup set a new scoring record with 308 goals in 104 matches, nearly doubling the 172 goals from 2022 Source: Diario Libre. Mbappé's 22 all-time goals came in exactly 22 games, while Messi's 21 came in 33 appearances over six tournaments Source: Listín Diario. Despite losing the scoring crown, Messi became the first player to score in seven straight World Cup matches, and he finished his sixth World Cup with 21 career goals Source: El Nacional.