France captain becomes only the fourth player in World Cup history to score at least 10 goals in a single tournament
France captain Kylian Mbappé has joined an elite group of World Cup goal scorers after becoming only the fourth player in the history of the competition to score 10 or more goals in a single tournament.
The Real Madrid forward achieved the feat on Saturday after scoring a brace in France’s 6–4 defeat to England in the World Cup third-place playoff.
Historic Milestone After 56 Years
Mbappé had scored eight goals before the third-place clash against the Three Lions. His two goals in the high-scoring encounter took his tally to 10, making him the first player in 56 years to reach the milestone at a single World Cup.
According to OptaJoe, the Frenchman is now the first player since Germany legend Gerd Müller achieved the feat in 1970 to score at least 10 goals in one edition of the tournament.
Only Four Players Have Achieved the Feat
Mbappé now joins three legendary names on the exclusive list of players to have scored 10 or more goals at a single FIFA World Cup.
Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis scored 11 goals at the 1954 World Cup, while France’s Just Fontaine holds the record with 13 goals at the 1958 tournament.
Gerd Müller scored 10 goals for West Germany at the 1970 World Cup.
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Mbappé’s 10-goal haul at the 2026 tournament now places him alongside these iconic figures in World Cup history.
Despite France’s 6–4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff, the 2026 tournament marked another remarkable individual campaign for the French captain, who continues to cement his place among the greatest goalscorers in World Cup history.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.