Kylian Mbappé has 14 World Cup goals. He’s passed Pelé. He’s passed Messi. And yet, when asked to rank the best in the game, the French forward still puts Lionel Messi above himself.
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mbappé made his admiration for the Argentine clear, publicly stating he expects Messi to keep finding the net on the biggest stage in football. He also placed both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a category above himself, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane.
Mbappé’s quiet ascent to the top
His 14 career World Cup goals now surpass Messi’s 13 and Pelé’s 12, placing him alone at the top of the all-time list as of June 2026.
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