Kylian Mbappe Chasing World Cup Glory, Not Lionel Messi's Goal Record

Published 1 July 2026 · sports

Kylian Mbappe Chasing World Cup Glory, Not Lionel Messi's Goal Record Published By, Last Updated: July 01, 2026, 10:44 IST Kylian Mbappe is just one

Kylian Mbappe Chasing World Cup Glory, Not Lionel Messi's Goal Record Published By, Last Updated: July 01, 2026, 10:44 IST Kylian Mbappe is just one World Cup goal behind Lionel Messi's all-time record, but the France captain says lifting the trophy matters far more than chasing history. Rapid Read Kylian Mbappe at the FIFA World Cup 2026 (AP) Kylian Mbappe is closing in on yet another World Cup milestone, but don’t expect the France captain to lose sleep over Lionel Messi’s scoring record just yet. For Mbappe, there is only one target that matters: lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy in New York on July 19. The 27-year-old continued his sensational tournament by scoring twice in France’s commanding 3-0 win over Sweden in the Round of 32 on Tuesday.

The brace took his tally to six goals at this World Cup, drawing him level with Messi in the race for the Golden Boot while moving him to 18 career World Cup goals — just one behind the Argentine’s all-time record of 19. Yet, despite history sitting within touching distance, Mbappe insists individual milestones are secondary to France’s pursuit of another world title. “I think the goal, as I said, is to go as far as possible… to make it to July 19 and come back here," Mbappe told reporters after the victory. “We’re trying to win; we’re taking it one step at a time. Of course, the more goals you score, the higher you climb in the rankings.

I’m not telling anyone anything new there. “But I’m also convinced that Leo is going to score more goals, so I don’t focus too much on that. I’m more focused on the opponents we might face and how close we’re getting to our goal: the final." Messi will have the chance to add to his tally when defending champions Argentina face Cape Verde in the Round of 32 on Friday. France, meanwhile, take on Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday, with a place in the quarter-finals against either Canada or Morocco up for grabs. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Siddarth Sriram After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas.

His... Read More First Published: July 01, 2026, 10:44 IST News sports football Kylian Mbappe Chasing World Cup Glory, Not Lionel Messi's Goal Record Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...