Kylian Mbappe has 14 career World Cup goals, is two behind the all-time record, and is locked in a scoring duel with the greatest player of his generation.
Ahead of France’s Group Stage clash with Iraq on June 21, Mbappe addressed the Golden Boot race head-on, essentially shrugging it off. Lionel Messi currently leads the tournament with 5 goals. Mbappe sits one behind at 4, tied with Norway’s Erling Haaland. When asked about chasing Messi’s tally, Mbappe kept it simple and respectful.
“He always does [score goals]. He is ahead of me.”
The numbers behind the rivalry
Mbappe’s 4 goals at the 2026 World Cup bring his career tournament total to 14. That’s just two shy of Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record. Klose accumulated his record-setting haul across four World Cups spanning 2002 to 2014. Mbappe is attempting to surpass that mark in just his third tournament, at the age of 27.
