Kylian Mbappé of France has surpassed the all-time World Cup goal-scoring record, achieving his 22nd career goal during France’s match against England. This milestone occurred in a third-place game where England defeated France 6-4. Mbappé, who is 27 years old, scored twice in the second half of the match, bringing his total for this World Cup to 10 goals.
The match, held in Miami Gardens, Florida, was a high-scoring affair, marking the highest-scoring World Cup game since 1982 and the most goals ever in a third-place match. England secured a 4-0 lead by halftime, with Bukayo Saka scoring three goals. Saka found the net in the 37th minute, during first-half stoppage time, and again with a penalty in the 87th minute, completing his second career hat trick for England.
Other goal scorers for England included Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa. Despite France’s strong offensive push in the second half, England maintained their lead to secure their second-best World Cup finish. England’s coach, Thomas Tuchel, expressed that while the team aimed for the final, he views their World Cup run as a success, particularly after their semifinal loss to Argentina.
Jude Bellingham contributed to England’s scoring in second-half stoppage time, netting his seventh goal of the tournament. This achievement makes him England’s all-time leading scorer in a single World Cup, surpassing previous records held by Harry Kane and Gary Lineker. For France, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé also scored in the second half.
Mbappé’s two goals in the match, scored in the 48th and 66th minutes, were crucial in France’s attempt to close the gap. His first goal brought him level with Lionel Messi‘s career World Cup goal tally of 21, and his second goal then surpassed it. Mbappé now leads the Golden Boot race with 10 goals in the tournament.
Messi, with 21 career World Cup goals and eight in this tournament, will have another opportunity to add to his tally when Argentina faces Spain in the final. France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, who is stepping down after 14 years, acknowledged the team’s disappointment after the semifinals but noted their improved performance in the second half of the third-place match.
The match drew a sellout crowd of 64,478 at Hard Rock Stadium, with supporters for both teams present. Many attendees were there to experience the atmosphere of the low-stakes game. One fan, Gaston Esquivel from Mexico City, expressed his support for England, citing his long-standing admiration for English football and the Premier League.
Another fan, Thomas Viel from Paris, travelled to follow France throughout the tournament and nearly witnessed a hat trick from Mbappé. Mbappé’s first goal came in the 48th minute, followed by a left-footed strike in the 66th minute. The final match for France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, concluded with him embracing players and waving to the crowd as he left the pitch.
Mbappé’s achievement places him ahead of Messi in career World Cup goals, with Messi having one more chance to score in the final against Spain.
Read Also
Source: sportsnet.ca
