Striker Kylian Mbappé reaches a significant milestone in his career this Monday (22) when he completes one hundred matches with the French national team’s shirt. The celebration takes place during the confrontation against Iraq, for the World Cup, at a crucial moment where the star is chasing the record for top scorer in World Cups, with Argentine Lionel Messi as his main competitor.
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Regarding the rivalry in artillery, Mbappé recognized his opponent’s ability. “I already expected Leo to score goals. He’s Leo Messi, he always scores goals, he has a natural gift for that”, declared the player. He emphasized that his main focus is to take the French team as far as possible in the competition, but that goals are a natural consequence of this quest.
The race for World Cup artillery has been intense this edition. Mbappé, who had reached 14 goals after scoring twice against Senegal, briefly surpassed Argentina’s number 10. However, Messi reacted quickly by scoring three goals in the 3-0 victory over Algeria, reaching 16 goals and equaling record holder Miroslav Klose.
The fight for who scores the most goals in the 2026 tournament also includes other big names in world football. Among the top scorers in contention, the Norwegian Erling Haaland and the Englishman Harry Kane stand out, increasing the competition in the goalscoring table.
Asked which of the four players mentioned had the greatest quality, the France captain was categorical. “The best, without a doubt, is Lionel Messi. He is at the top of the world along with Cristiano Ronaldo, and that is something indisputable on the football scene,” said Mbappé, praising the Argentine’s consistency over more than a decade.
In the World Cup Group I classification, the France team occupies second place. The team is behind Norway, and both have three points, but the French have a lower goal difference than the Norwegians.
France’s next challenge will be against Iraq this Monday, with the match scheduled for 6pm (Brasília time). The game will take place at Lincoln Financial Field, located in Philadelphia, in the United States, in a duel valid for the second round of the World Cup. Both teams are part of Group I, alongside Norway and Senegal.