{"success":true,"data":{"id":"746517ff-9fc7-4d03-82fa-d4a7e17bcf66","title":"France’s Kylian Mbappe all but clinches World Cup Golden Boot in third-place game","summary":"Open Soccer navigation Sports France’s Kylian Mbappe all but clinches World Cup Golden Boot in third-place game For 90 carefree minutes in Miami, defense disappeared, goals were aplenty and Kylian Mbappé seized the Golden Boot race leaderboard.","content":"Open Soccer navigation Sports\n\n# France’s Kylian Mbappe all but clinches World Cup Golden Boot in third-place game\n\nFor 90 carefree minutes in Miami, defense disappeared, goals were aplenty and [Kylian Mbappé](https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/sports/kylian-mbappe-surprises-young-fans-ahead-of-world-cup-match/) seized the [Golden Boot](https://nypost.com/2026/07/17/betting/world-cup-golden-boot-race-picks-should-you-bet-kylian-mbappe-or-lionel-messi/) race leaderboard.\n\nFrance’s [6-4 loss to England](https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/sports/england-beats-france-in-and-historic-world-cup-third-place-match/) in Saturday’s third-place match looked more like an NBA All-Star Game than a World Cup showdown. With Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé all beginning on the bench, neither side showed much interest in risking tired legs just weeks before returning to their clubs.\n\nEngland raced to a stunning 4-0 halftime lead before France finally responded.\n\nKylian Mbappe reacting after France’s 6-4 loss to England in their World Cup third-place consolation game on July 18, 2026 in Miami. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters\n\nMbappé scored twice and added an assist in the second half as France clawed back with three unanswered goals before Bukayo Saka completed the hat trick to help England pull away late.\n\nThe French superstar’s performance pushed him to 10 goals and four assists for the tournament, all but locking up the World Cup Golden Boot.\n\n## Explore More\n\nLionel Messi entered the day holding the tiebreaker with eight goals and four assists, but Sunday’s final now presents an almost impossible math problem. Messi would likely need a hat trick against Spain at MetLife Stadium to overtake Mbappé outright — or two goals and an assist to win on the tiebreaker.\n\nWhat do you think?[Be the first to comment.](https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/sports/kylian-mbappe-all-but-clinches-2026-fifa-world-cup-golden-boot/#nypost-openweb-conversation)\n\nMbappé also moved past Messi atop the World Cup’s all-time scoring chart with 22 career goals, one ahead of the Argentine legend entering Sunday’s final.\n\nMessi can still reclaim both records, but his focus is almost certainly elsewhere.\n\nBy clicking \"SIGN UP\" you agree to the [Terms of Use](https://nypost.com/terms)&[Privacy Notice](https://pagesix.com/privacy)\n\nAlready a subscriber? [Login](https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/sports/kylian-mbappe-all-but-clinches-2026-fifa-world-cup-golden-boot/#)\n\n## **Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters**\n\n**California Post News**: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheCaliforniaPost/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/californiapost), [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@CaliforniaPost), [X](https://x.com/californiapost), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@thecaliforniapost), [WhatsApp](https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6a2IV1NCrL6q2AWq0E), [LinkedIn](http://linkedin.com/company/californiapost)\n\n**California Post Sports**[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/capostsports/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/capostsports/?hl=en), [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@capostsports), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@CaliforniaPostSports), [X](https://x.com/capostsports)\n\n**California Post**[Opinion](https://x.com/californiapost)\n\n**California Post Newsletters**: [Sign up here!](https://email.nypost.com/#california-post)\n\n**California Post App**: [Download here!](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/california-post/id6751343487)\n\n**Home delivery**: [Sign up here!](https://subscribe.californiapost.com/defaultCAP)[](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/california-post/id6751343487)**Page Six Hollywood**: [Sign up here!](https://pagesix.com/hollywood-signup/)\n\nA victory over Spain would deliver Argentina its second straight World Cup title — something no nation has accomplished since Brazil in 1962 — while strengthening his case for the Golden Ball and perhaps even a record ninth Ballon d’Or.\n\nFiled under\n\nSPONSORED STORIES\n\n## More Stories\n\n### Page Six\n\n### Decider\n\n### NYPost","source_name":"New York Post","source_url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/sports/kylian-mbappe-all-but-clinches-2026-fifa-world-cup-golden-boot/","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/sports/kylian-mbappe-all-but-clinches-2026-fifa-world-cup-golden-boot/","author":"Michael Duarte","author_name":"Michael Duarte","published_at":"2026-07-19T01:25:51.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-19T01:25:51.000Z","image_url":"https://images.outbrainimg.com/transform/v3/eyJpdSI6IjNmOGUzMjQ0OWFiYmE2MDFkMmVlYTA5Mjk0ZWVlMjZhMTVmODRjM2E4OTk2YjZiMmU0YzE5NjQ5ODFmMWVhYzIiLCJ3Ijo5MCwiaCI6NjAsImQiOjEuMCwiY3MiOjAsImYiOjR9.webp","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":3,"word_count":410,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot","language":null}}