Kylian Mbappé eyes top scorer title in World Cup third-place play-off
France captain Kylian Mbappé will start against England as he pursues a personal goal to surpass Lionel Messi in the race for the 2026 World Cup top scorer award.
Kylian Mbappé est resté muet face à l'Espagne, mardi en demi-finales de la Coupe du monde (0-2). (S. Mantey/L'Équipe)
For Kylian Mbappé, the third-place play-off at the 2026 World Cup has become an unexpected final act. The France captain, who had aspirations of winning his second world title, is now focused on ending the tournament on a high note with a specific personal target in mind.
The Frenchman is currently tied with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, with both players having scored eight goals in seven matches. While most of the French starting lineup is expected to be rotated, Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Mbappé will feature from the start.
For Kylian, it would be good if he were the top scorer of the tournament or the history of the World Cup, and I would be the happiest for him. Of course, knowing him, he would have preferred to score zero goals and win the tournament. Ibrahima Konaté
The match also holds historical significance. Mbappé currently sits on 20 goals in World Cup history, just one behind his rival, Messi, who has 21. Beyond the team's desire to secure a bronze medal, the Real Madrid forward is determined to turn this fixture into a meaningful milestone in his career.
Deschamps supports his captain's pursuit, emphasizing the importance of finishing third. At the same time, the manager expects Mbappé to remain committed to the team's collective goal, ensuring he doesn't play solely for his personal scoring ambitions against England.