Mbappé reaches 18 World Cup goals to stand one shy of Messi's all-time record

Kylian Mbappé moved to within one goal of Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup scoring record after a brace in France’s 3-0 victory over Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium on Tuesday, taking his career tally to 18 goals in 18 World Cup appearances.

Mbappé’s first arrived just before half-time, the product of a give-and-go with Ousmane Dembélé that ended with the 27-year-old cutting across Viktor Gyökeres and firing past Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström. He sprinted directly to head coach Didier Deschamps after the goal — Deschamps’ first game back on the touchline after leaving the squad during the group stage to attend his mother’s funeral in Europe.

The second came in the 74th minute when Michael Olise played a ball into the box for a darting Mbappé, who finished calmly with his right foot to make it 3-0 and seal France’s passage to the round of 16.

The double also gave Mbappé his 9th and 10th World Cup knockout-stage goals, breaking a tie with Brazilian legends Leonidas and Ronaldo for the most in tournament history.

Messi set the all-time record of 19 World Cup goals earlier in this year’s tournament. The Argentine has reached that mark across 29 appearances; Mbappé has matched 18 of those goals in exactly half the games. Mbappé’s sixth goal of the 2026 tournament also drew him level with Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, with both players having appeared in four matches.

France will face Paraguay in the round of 16 on 4 July at Philadelphia Stadium. Paraguay eliminated Germany on Monday to advance.