Kylian Mbappé Ties World Cup Goals Record for 2nd Place, France Reaches Knockout Stage/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Kylian Mbappé scored twice in France’s 3-0 victory over Iraq to secure a place in the World Cup knockout rounds. The French star reached 16 career World Cup goals, tying Miroslav Klose for second-most in tournament history. Lionel Messi remains the all-time leader with 18 World Cup goals, but Mbappé continues to close the gap.
Kylian Mbappé World Cup Goals Record Quick Looks
- France defeated Iraq 3-0 to advance to the knockout stage.
- Mbappé scored twice in his 100th international appearance.
- The French forward now has 16 career World Cup goals.
- Mbappé tied former Germany striker Miroslav Klose for second place all-time.
- Lionel Messi currently leads World Cup history with 18 goals.
- France remains among the tournament favorites.
- Ousmane Dembélé also scored for Les Bleus.
- Mbappé now owns 59 international goals for France.
- The 27-year-old has scored in three different World Cups.
- France seeks its second title in the last three tournaments.
Deep Look
Mbappé Continues Historic World Cup Chase as France Advances
Kylian Mbappé moved another step closer to soccer immortality on Monday, scoring twice in France’s commanding 3-0 victory over Iraq and climbing into a tie for second place on the World Cup’s all-time scoring list.
The French superstar now has 16 career World Cup goals, matching the total scored by Germany legend Miroslav Klose before this year’s tournament reshaped the record books.
Only Argentina captain Lionel Messi stands ahead of him.
Messi raised the benchmark earlier Monday when he scored twice in Argentina’s victory over Algeria, bringing his tournament record to 18 career World Cup goals.
Mbappé understands the challenge ahead.
“If I want to keep up with what Leo is doing,” Mbappé said after France beat Iraq 3-0 to reach the knockout stage, “I’ll have to do even more.”
France Advances Behind Its Star Forward
France entered the tournament among the favorites and continued its strong run by securing qualification for the knockout rounds with another dominant display.
The breakthrough arrived in the 14th minute when Mbappé found space outside the penalty area and unleashed a left-footed strike from roughly 20 yards that beat Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil.
The goal gave France an early advantage and marked another milestone in Mbappé’s landmark 100th appearance for the national team.
After a lengthy weather delay extended halftime beyond two hours, France returned to the field and quickly regained momentum.
Mbappé added his second goal in the 54th minute after capitalizing on a costly defensive mistake. Iraq defender Zaid Tahseen played a poor pass back toward goal, allowing Ousmane Dembélé to seize possession. Dembélé calmly set up Mbappé, who tapped home from close range to double the lead.
The Real Madrid star nearly completed a hat trick later in the match but missed a late opportunity before being substituted in the closing minutes.
Closing the Gap on Messi
The race for the World Cup scoring crown has become one of the tournament’s most compelling storylines.
Messi now sits atop the all-time list with 18 goals after surpassing Klose earlier in the competition. The Argentine captain reached the milestone after recording the first World Cup hat trick of his career against Algeria.
Mbappé acknowledged the challenge of chasing the record held by one of soccer’s greatest players.
“Leo always scores,” Mbappé said.
At just 27 years old, however, Mbappé may have time on his side.
Eleven years younger than Messi, the French captain could realistically compete in two or three additional World Cups, giving him numerous opportunities to claim the record outright.
Deschamps Praises His Captain
France coach Didier Deschamps praised Mbappé’s leadership and impact on the squad as the team pursues another world title.
“He’s here to score goals and that’s something he’s been doing,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “He’s somebody that has a worldwide aura.”
Deschamps also defended his captain against critics who have questioned aspects of his personality.
“I’ve seen enough criticism on his egotistical side,” Deschamps said. “But that’s not who he is. I reiterate, he’s the team captain. And he’s a bright example for the rest of the group.”
France Eyes Another Championship
France has established itself as one of international soccer’s dominant powers over the last decade.
Mbappé helped lead Les Bleus to the 2018 World Cup title and guided them back to the final in 2022, where they narrowly lost to Argentina on penalties despite his memorable hat trick performance.
Now, France is pursuing another championship run.
The attack features an elite collection of talent alongside Mbappé, including reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and rising star Désiré Doué.
Their combination of experience, speed and finishing ability has made France one of the most feared teams remaining in the tournament.
Dembélé added France’s third goal against Iraq, completing a comfortable victory and reinforcing the team’s status as a leading contender.
Mbappé’s Growing Legacy
Mbappé’s World Cup production has been extraordinary across three tournaments.
His goal totals include:
- 4 goals in the 2018 World Cup
- 8 goals in the 2022 World Cup
- 4 goals so far in the 2026 World Cup
His eight goals in 2022 earned him the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer.
The latest brace also elevated him to 59 international goals for France, moving him two clear of Olivier Giroud as the nation’s all-time leading scorer.
For a player already considered among the world’s elite, the records continue to accumulate.
What Comes Next
France advances to the knockout stage with momentum, confidence and a superstar performing at his peak.
Mbappé’s pursuit of another World Cup trophy remains the priority, but the race to surpass Messi’s scoring record will continue to draw global attention.
If France makes a deep run, the gap could shrink even further before the tournament ends.
And with multiple World Cups potentially still ahead of him, Mbappé’s pursuit of the greatest scoring record in tournament history may only be getting started.
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