Mbappe Puts World Cup Glory Above Messi’s Scoring Record

Kylian Mbappe has made clear that lifting the World Cup trophy remains his top priority, even as he edges closer to breaking Lionel Messi’s all-time tournament scoring record. The France captain struck twice in Les Bleus’ 3-0 win over Sweden in the Round of 32, pushing his career World Cup tally to 18 goals from just 18 matches.

Mbappe Closes In On Messi’s Record

The double against Sweden also took Mbappe to six goals at the 2026 World Cup, putting him level with Messi in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot. He now sits just one goal shy of Messi’s benchmark of 19 World Cup goals, a record that has stood as one of the sport’s most storied achievements. Despite being on the verge of history, Mbappe downplayed the significance of the milestone, insisting his focus is squarely on team success rather than personal accolades.

France Eyes Step-By-Step Progress

Speaking to reporters after the win, Mbappe said his ambition is simply to advance as far as possible and return for the World Cup final on July 19 in New York. He acknowledged that France still has room to improve despite the convincing scoreline against Sweden, signalling that the team isn’t getting ahead of itself.

France will next face Paraguay in the last 16, with Mbappe stressing the importance of taking the tournament one match at a time. With his scoring exploits keeping him in the conversation for both the Golden Boot and Messi’s all-time record, the France talisman’s focus remains firmly on guiding his side toward a historic World Cup triumph.