The race for the all-time World Cup top-scorer record has ignited after Kylian Mbappé continued his pursuit of Lionel Messi, raising his tally to 18 goals in 18 matches — just one goal away from equalling the record held by the Argentine legend, who stands on 19.
Mbappé's brace against Sweden in the round of 32 earned him a new historic milestone, taking his tally to 10 goals in knockout-stage matches and leaving him alone at the top of that record in the most decisive phase of the tournament, further cementing his place among the greatest scorers in World Cup history.
Mbappé led France to a clean 3-0 victory over Sweden, sending Les Bleus through to the round of 16 in commanding fashion, with the French national team now set to face Paraguay in the last 16.
Mbappé's pursuit is not limited to the all-time record — he has also entered the race for the 2026 Golden Boot in force, reaching 6 goals to match Messi's tally, while Erling Haaland sits in the next position with 5 goals, making the contest all the more intense as the knockout rounds get under way.
Mbappé's scoring rate stands out in exceptional fashion: 18 goals in 18 World Cup matches — a ratio that strengthens his chances of reaching the all-time summit during the current edition if the French national team continues its run into the latter stages.
The single-goal gap between Messi and Mbappé adds an extra dimension to the battle for the all-time scoring title, at a time when both stars are also competing for the tournament's Golden Boot, turning the 2026 edition into the stage for a historic chase that could rewrite the most prominent records in the World Cup's annals.