On Saturday in Miami, a city that loves a prolific superstar, Kylian Mbappé broke the all-time men’s World Cup goalscoring record. Miami is now the home of Lionel Messi, the living legend whose 21 World Cup goals Mbappe surpassed. With 22 goals scored, Mbappé himself has strode into illustrious World Cup company at the age of 27. It took Mbappé 11 fewer matches to reach 21 goals. And he did so after playing in three fewer World Cups than Messi, who is now 39, and a day away from playing in what is expected to be his final World Cup game. Mbappé and Messi were not supposed to be rivals. Cristiano Ronaldo had filled that role for over a decade, battling with Messi both on the pitch and in the record book. Since breaking out as a teenager, first with Monaco, then with France at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Mbappé may not have always been in lock step with Messi, but he has always had the privilege of sitting at the same table as the Argentina captain. The 2026 World Cup was expected to be Mbappé ’s tournament. With one World Cup title in hand, a second would have placed Mbappé incredibly close to Pelé, who won three World Cups with Brazil. At his age, and playing at this level, Mbappé was on course to establish himself as the tournament’s greatest ever player in the modern era. With an elite France team around him, it was, and still may be, in the cards. But while a second World Cup eluded him and France this summer, by becoming the competition's all-time leading goalscorer, Mbappé showed why he will be the sport’s preeminent player at the international level moving forward.Before France’s underwhelming performance against Spain on July 14, Mbappé was having an exceptional World Cup. He looked unstoppable, a formidable blend of speed, strength and skill, and seemingly scoring at will. Fitness didn’t appear to be an issue. He played with visible swagger and stylish guile that was fitting of a France national team captain.