Mbappé scores twice in 6-4 defeat to England, leads Messi by two goals in World Cup Golden Boot race

Third-place thriller

England defeated France 6-4 in the World Cup third-place play-off on Saturday, claiming the bronze medal in a match that saw Kylian Mbappé score twice for the losing side. The French forward struck in the 48th minute with a cross-shot after a deep pass from Michael Olise, and later added a second following a one-two with the Bayern Munich midfielder. The result marked Didier Deschamps' final game as France head coach, his team unable to recover from England's first-half dominance despite a strong spell after the break. Mbappé was one of only four French players to retain their starting place from the semi-final defeat to Spain, a selection clearly aimed at boosting his Golden Boot chances.

Golden Boot standings

Mbappé's double took him to 10 goals for the tournament, two ahead of Lionel Messi's 8. The 27-year-old also registered an assist, bringing his total to four, a figure La Razón reports is now level with Messi. Jude Bellingham scored for England to reach 7 goals, the most an Englishman has ever managed at a single World Cup, edging ahead of Erling Haaland on the assists tiebreaker. Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé sit one further back on 6 goals each.

All-time scoring race

Beyond the Golden Boot, Mbappé and Messi are locked in a battle to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer. Mbappé's two goals against England lifted his career total to 22 in 22 matches across three tournaments, moving him one ahead of Messi's 21. The Frenchman, who lifted the trophy in 2018, is aiming to become the first player to win the Golden Boot twice. Only eight players had previously scored eight or more goals at a single men's World Cup: Gerd Müller, Just Fontaine, Sandor Kocsis, Ademir, Eusebio, Guillermo Stabile, Ronaldo and Mbappé himself.

A tournament for the stars

The 2026 edition has been defined by its attacking talent. Mbappé's 10-goal haul is the highest at a men's World Cup since Gerd Müller also reached double figures for West Germany in 1970. Bellingham's seven goals set a new English benchmark, while Haaland, Kane and Dembélé have all delivered prolific campaigns. The third-place play-off alone produced 10 goals, underlining the open, high-scoring nature of the knockout stages.

Final showdown

Messi and Argentina face Spain in the final on Sunday, with the 39-year-old still able to claim the Golden Boot. If he scores twice, he would draw level with Mbappé on 10 goals and the award would be decided on assists. La Razón reports both players currently have four assists, while the BBC indicates Messi holds the tiebreaker advantage. Mbappé's tally of 10 goals is already the most by any player at a single World Cup this century, and only a Messi double can deny him a second Golden Boot crown.