Mbappe Sets World Cup Scoring Mark in Third-Place Match

Kylian Mbappe scored twice on Saturday in a 6-4 defeat to England, moving his career World Cup goal tally to 22 and surpassing Lionel Messi's previous mark of 21. The two goals also gave Mbappe 10 for the tournament, the first player to reach double digits at a single World Cup since Gerd Muller in 1970.

The match decided only third place after France lost 2-0 to Spain in the semifinals. Mbappe had limited involvement in that earlier defeat. Third-place games have drawn criticism for limited competitive value. Coaches often rest key players, and the outcome carries little long-term weight compared with earlier knockout rounds.

A semifinal exit normally ends a team's tournament elsewhere in the bracket. The third-place match remains part of the schedule despite periodic calls to eliminate it. FIFA has kept the fixture, citing revenue for the host city and the organization.

The final is scheduled for Sunday and will include the first World Cup halftime show.