Mbappé: 'I would have preferred not to be the all-time top scorer and play in the final'

France's Kylian Mbappé voiced disappointment following the team's 6-4 defeat to England in the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff, lamenting their initial performance.

"In the first half, we were human," Mbappé told M6 after the match. "After halftime, we returned to being top-level players, but it's a shame for the coach. It seems we disappointed him at the start, although this match won't tarnish his legacy."

Mbappé's brace in the match made him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. However, he emphasized that individual accolades were secondary to team success. "I would have preferred not to be the all-time leading scorer and to play in the final," he admitted. "It's good for when we retire to think that I was one of the best, but it's not the first thing on my mind."

Reflecting on the upcoming final, Mbappé also commented on Lionel Messi's scoring prowess. "Leo (Messi) scores all the time, tomorrow he will surely score," he said, referencing Messi's consistent performance. "I'm just trying to help my team score every time. It's certain that when you score so many goals in the World Cup, it makes you evolve in some spheres, but here I am."

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Leo (Messi) marca todo el tiempo, mañana (en la final) marcará seguro. Solo estoy tratando de ayudar a mi equipo a marcar cada vez. Es seguro que cuando marcas tanto goles en la Copa del Mundo, te hace evolucionar en algunas esferas, pero aquí estoy