MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Kylian Mbappé became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history on Saturday, but the France captain admitted the milestone meant little after his team’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff.Mbappé scored twice to raise his career World Cup tally to 22 goals, surpassing Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s previous record of 21.The France star also finished the tournament with 10 goals, extending his lead over Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the competition’s top scorer.“I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history and play in the match tomorrow,” Mbappé told Fox Sports in French, referring to Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final ended with a semifinal defeat to Spain, leaving Les Bleus to settle for fourth place after Saturday’s high-scoring loss.Mbappé’s 10 goals matched the third-highest single-tournament total in World Cup history, behind France’s Just Fontaine (13 in 1958) and Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis (11 in 1954), while equaling Gerd Müller’s 10 goals for West Germany in 1970.France trailed 4-0 at halftime before mounting a spirited comeback.Mbappé began the rally with a goal in the 48th minute before Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé also found the net.His second goal, a left-footed finish in the 66th minute, moved him past Messi’s career scoring mark.“There were two very different halves,” Mbappé said. “During the first one, we were completely stunned, and they really shook us awake.”Michael Olise also made history by providing two assists to finish the tournament with seven, setting a new World Cup record and surpassing Pelé’s previous mark of six from the 1970 tournament.Saturday’s match also marked the end of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as France coach.“The end of a journey which represented the most beautiful period,” Deschamps said. “When I started in 2012, I put the French team first.”Deschamps, who guided France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final, defended his captain after the defeat.“I know he has been given an image that is not true to reality,” Deschamps said. “He is an incredible captain. He is disappointed that he did not manage to compete in the final.”Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to succeed Deschamps as France coach in the coming days.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Kylian Mbappé became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history on Saturday, but the France captain admitted the milestone meant little after his team’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff.Mbappé scored twice to raise his career World Cup tally to 22 goals, surpassing Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s previous record of 21.The France star also finished the tournament with 10 goals, extending his lead over Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the competition’s top scorer.“I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history and play in the match tomorrow,” Mbappé told Fox Sports in French, referring to Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final ended with a semifinal defeat to Spain, leaving Les Bleus to settle for fourth place after Saturday’s high-scoring loss.Mbappé’s 10 goals matched the third-highest single-tournament total in World Cup history, behind France’s Just Fontaine (13 in 1958) and Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis (11 in 1954), while equaling Gerd Müller’s 10 goals for West Germany in 1970.France trailed 4-0 at halftime before mounting a spirited comeback.Mbappé began the rally with a goal in the 48th minute before Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé also found the net.His second goal, a left-footed finish in the 66th minute, moved him past Messi’s career scoring mark.“There were two very different halves,” Mbappé said. “During the first one, we were completely stunned, and they really shook us awake.”Michael Olise also made history by providing two assists to finish the tournament with seven, setting a new World Cup record and surpassing Pelé’s previous mark of six from the 1970 tournament.Saturday’s match also marked the end of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as France coach.“The end of a journey which represented the most beautiful period,” Deschamps said. “When I started in 2012, I put the French team first.”Deschamps, who guided France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final, defended his captain after the defeat.“I know he has been given an image that is not true to reality,” Deschamps said. “He is an incredible captain. He is disappointed that he did not manage to compete in the final.”Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to succeed Deschamps as France coach in the coming days.
