Kylian Mbappé celebrates a significant milestone this Monday (22) during France’s clash with Iraq. The striker reaches his 100th game for the French national team, still seeking a notable achievement in World Cups. He aims to top the list of top scorers in the championship’s history, in fierce competition with other global stars.
The French star started the current edition of the tournament in impressive fashion, scoring two goals against Senegal and taking his total to 14 World Cup goals. That performance briefly put him above Lionel Messi in the rankings. However, the advantage was ephemeral, as the Argentine player reacted with a hat-trick in the 3-0 rout of Algeria, reaching 16 goals and equaling Miroslav Klose’s record as leader among historical scorers. To put it into context, this number puts him ahead of icons like Ronaldo Fenômeno, who has 15 goals in World Cups.
“I already expected Leo to score. He’s Leo Messi, he always scores goals. He has a unique talent. I’m right behind him. I will certainly continue to strive to find the net, trying to take my team as far as possible. Scoring goals, obviously, brings us closer to records like this. However, the most crucial thing for me, as I always emphasize, is to guide my team to victory in the World Cup”, declared Mbappé.
Follow the fierce competition for artillery in 2026
The race for top scorer in the 2026 World Cup also includes the participation of other big names. Erling Haaland, representing Norway, and Harry Kane, from England, join the competition, intensifying the rivalry between the great global strikers. When asked about the level of his competitors, Mbappé did not hesitate to praise the skill of his opponents, highlighting the importance of the dispute.
“Who is the best among the four players? Lionel Messi, without the slightest doubt. He is the best in the world, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, and that is an unquestionable fact. I believe that he has proven, over 15 years, to have extraordinary quality. I tried my best. I demonstrated my talent on the biggest stage, contributing to my team winning another World Cup”, confirmed the player.
The French team, in turn, is in second place in Group I, just below Norway. The team’s next match will be against Iraq, this Monday (22), starting at 6pm (Brasília time). The game will take place at Lincoln Financial Field, located in Philadelphia, United States.