Kylian Mbappé scored twice for France on 30 June 2026, to move within one goal of Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup scoring record. The French captain led his team to a 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 at the New Jersey Stadium.
Consequently, France advanced to the Round of 16, while Mbappé reached a total of 18 World Cup goals in just 18 appearances. He also broke the record for the most goals ever scored in the tournament’s knockout stages.
Breaking the Knockout Stage Scoring Record
Kylian Mbappé is now the most successful player in the history of World Cup knockout football. Specifically, his brace against Sweden took his total to 10 knockout stage goals. That record was previously held by Brazilian legends Ronaldo Nazário and Leonidas, who both scored eight knockout goals. Mbappé has reached this milestone at just 27 years of age.
The Frenchman played exceptionally throughout the game. He scored his first goal right before half-time after a slick combination from a corner kick. Later, he sealed the win with a second goal in the 74th minute. Meanwhile, his rival Lionel Messi has scored five goals in knockout matches during his career. Therefore, Mbappé has doubled Messi’s tally in the most pressured matches of the tournament.
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FIFA World Cup All-Time Scoring Leaders
| Player | Country | Goals | Games Played |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 19 | 29 |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 18 | 18 |
| Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 24 |
| Ronaldo Nazario | Brazil | 15 | 19 |
| Gerd Muller | Germany | 14 | 13 |
| Jost Fontaine | France | 13 | 6 |
| Harry Kane | England | 13 | 15 |
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Chasing Lionel Messi’s All-Time Scoring Mark
Lionel Messi has scored 19 goals and stands as the top World Cup goal scorer of all time. But Mbappé is catching up quickly and is now on 18 goals. What is even more impressive is that Mbappé achieved this in 18 matches, while Messi took 29 games. This means Mbappé is averaging a goal a game in the World Cup.
Football experts believe that Mbappé will definitely take first place. He’s still young and could play in two or three more World Cups. If he continues this pace, he will likely set a record that will stand for decades. Messi, though, still has an opportunity to extend his lead with Argentina’s next game against Cape Verde.
READ MORE: Lionel Messi Wins Major League Soccer (MLS) Golden Boot
The Battle for the 2026 Golden Boot
The race for the 2026 Golden Boot is now a tie between the world’s two biggest stars. Both Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi have scored six goals so far in this tournament. England’s Harry Kane and Norway’s Erling Haaland, who both have five goals, are also among the players eyeing the Golden Boot.
“I don’t think about individual records alone,” Mbappe said. He wants to take France to the final on July 19th at MetLife Stadium. He explained that his main goal is to make his country proud and win the World Cup title a second time. However, he admitted that scoring more goals means winning games and climbing the rankings for his country.
What’s Next for France and Mbappé
France will now prepare to face Paraguay in the Round of 16 on Saturday, July 4th. Paraguay reached this stage after a surprising win over Germany in a penalty shootout.
Mbappé appears to be enjoying his football more than ever. He noted that in previous tournaments, he was younger and focused strictly on performance. Now, he believes he can enjoy the game with high-level play in this World Cup.
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