Mbappé Makes World Cup History With Record 22nd Goal

Kylian Mbappé just wrote his name into soccer history, becoming the highest scorer in World Cup tournament play with 22 career goals. The French captain achieved the milestone during Saturday's third-place playoff against England, though his two-goal performance couldn't prevent a 6-4 loss.

The achievement is even more impressive when you look at the numbers. Mbappé needed just 22 games to reach this mark, while Messi required 33 matches to score his 21 goals.

Despite the record, Mbappé stayed humble and team-focused after the match. "I would have preferred not to be the all-time top scorer and to be playing tomorrow's match," he said, referring to Sunday's final between Argentina and Spain.

The game marked the end of an era for France as legendary coach Didier Deschamps stepped down after 14 years. As a player, Deschamps captained France to World Cup glory in 1998, then guided them to victory again in 2018 as manager.

England delivered their best World Cup performance since winning it all in 1966, securing third place with an explosive offensive display. Bukayo Saka scored a hat trick for the Three Lions, while Jude Bellingham became the first English player to net seven goals in a single World Cup.

The Bright Side

At just 27, Mbappé has already cemented his legacy as one of soccer's all-time greats. His record came faster than any player in history, showing that dedication and talent can rewrite the history books at any age.

The young star also leads the race for this tournament's Golden Boot award with two more goals than Messi. "When you score a lot of goals at the World Cup, it puts you in a certain category," Mbappé noted.

Sunday's final between Spain and Argentina promises another chapter in this historic tournament, with Messi getting one more chance to reclaim his scoring crown. But for now, the record belongs to France's captain, proof that greatness knows no age limit.