WORLD CUP
France Men’s National Soccer Team
Kylian Mbappé nets two World Cup goals against England to pass Lionel Messi’s record
Meghan L. HallUSA TODAY Network
Updated July 18, 2026, 6:43 p.m. ET
MIAMI GARDENS, FL ― There is only one Kylian Mbappé, and the France superstar now stands alone at the World Cup.
On Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Mbappé dug his heels into the pitch and zipped a sweet ball into the net against England. The strike, which came in the 48th minute, cut France’s deficit to 4-1. It also tied Mbappé with Lionel Messi for the most World Cup goals ever.
And because Mbappé is Mbappé, he quite literally upped the score and the record books with a second goal in the 66th minute. His second strike was his 10th goal of the tournament and 22nd of his career in World Cup games. His brace against England moves him ahead of Messi for the most goals in World Cup history (22).
Additionally, Mbappe’s teammate Michael Olise, who assisted on both of Mbappe’s goals, passed Pelé for the most assists in a single tournament with seven.
If Mbappé and France can come back to beat England, they will have $29 million and a bronze medal for their efforts. A France win could also impact the country’s world ranking and qualifying draw for the 2030 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappé’s goal vs England in World Cup
Kylian Mbappé’s second goal vs England in World Cup
Kylian Mbappé World Cup history
A few inches in Qatar separate Mbappé and France from back-to-back championships and a very different narrative around the Real Madrid star’s heroic performance in the final. Les Bleus are among the favorites entering the 2026 World Cup and Mbappe will be the key to their hopes in North America, set to pass 100 international appearances at age 27.
Kylian Mbappé international stats
Entering the 2026 World Cup, the 27-year-old has scored 56 goals in 96 international matches.
What Pro Club does Kylian Mbappé play for?
Real Madrid.
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USA TODAY’s Jordan Mendoza contributed to this reporting
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