Should Kylian Mbappe's World Cup record comes with a third-place asterisk?
CBS Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Kylian Mbappe became the World Cup's all-time leading goal scorer with 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi's 21, after scoring twice in France's 6-4 loss to England in the third-place match.
- Despite these records, the third-place game is widely viewed as meaningless and lacks the competitive intensity of other knockout matches, often treated as a glorified friendly.
- Mbappe's record is somewhat controversial because the third-place game is an extra opportunity not available to teams eliminated earlier, raising questions about the fairness of counting these goals equally.
- Unlike other major tournaments like the UEFA European Championship, which discontinued third-place matches, FIFA maintains this fixture mainly for financial and host city benefits, despite limited interest from players and fans.
- The article suggests FIFA should reconsider the third-place game’s value, highlighting how the World Cup is increasingly adopting American-style entertainment elements, such as halftime shows and championship rings.
