Mbappé closes in on Messi’s World Cup scoring record with 19th goal
France star draws level in Golden Boot race after decisive strike against Paraguay
Philadelphia: Kylian Mbappé moved to within one goal of Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup scoring tally after netting his 19th career World Cup goal in France’s Round of 16 clash against Paraguay on Saturday.
Mbappé converted a penalty in the 70th minute to break a scoreless deadlock, sending Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill the wrong way after a stutter-step run-up. The spot-kick was awarded following a video review that determined Diego Gómez had committed a foul.
The goal was Mbappé’s 19th in 19 World Cup appearances for France, leaving him just one behind Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who holds the current record with 20 World Cup goals.
It was also Mbappé’s seventh goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, drawing him level with Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the tournament’s top scorer.
Mbappé claimed the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, although Messi and Argentina went on to defeat France in the final.
Messi scored his 20th career World Cup goal in Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Cape Verde on Friday. The 39-year-old also extended his remarkable run by scoring in a record eight consecutive World Cup matches.
Norway’s Erling Haaland and England captain Harry Kane remain in contention for the Golden Boot, with five goals each.
Should players finish level on goals at the end of the tournament, FIFA will apply assists as the first tiebreaker, followed by the fewest minutes played. Mbappé currently holds a 2-0 advantage over Messi in assists.