Mbappé surpasses Messi to become World Cup’s all-time leading scorer
Kylian Mbappé
Abdullateef Fowewe
Kylian Mbappé etched his name into football immortality on Saturday by becoming the outright all-time top scorer in World Cup history, surpassing the previous record held by Lionel Messi in a high-stakes match against England.
The French superstar’s milestone strike propelled him past Messi’s tally, capping a historic performance in what has been a record-breaking tournament for the 2026 World Cup.
The achievement underscores Mbappé’s rapid ascent among the game’s greats, even as Messi’s legendary legacy continues to loom large.
Messi, the Argentine icon and 2022 World Cup winner, finishes his World Cup career with 22 goals across 22 matches played.
Across his entire professional career, Messi has scored 919 official goals (club and country combined) as of mid-July 2026.
The moment marks a passing of the torch in one of football’s most prestigious individual records, with Mbappé already a World Cup winner delivering yet another chapter in his extraordinary story.
Fans and pundits alike hailed the feat as “historic,” celebrating the continued evolution of the beautiful game.
