World Cup
Mbappé’s 19th strike fuels fierce World Cup scoring duel
Kylian Mbappé added his 19th World Cup goal as France secured quarter‑final qualification, tying Lionel Messi’s tally and keeping the race for the tournament’s all‑time top scorer wide open. The French forward’s strike came in the 70th minute against Paraguay.
Lionel Messi reached 20 World Cup goals after netting in the group match against Cape Verde. The Argentine No 10’s tally now sits ahead of all others except Mbappé’s 19.
Miroslav Klose entered the 2026 tournament with the record of 16 goals, having led the all‑time list before the competition began. His total is now eclipsed by the French and Argentine forwards.
Paraguay’s first half against France was uneventful, but the South American side increased pressure after the break. Doué entered in the 60th minute, won a penalty after a challenge on Diego Gomez, and the decision was confirmed by VAR after referee Ilgiz Tantashev initially allowed play to continue.
Kylian Mbappé then faced Paraguayan goalkeeper Gil one‑on‑one and scored in the 70th minute, marking his 19th World Cup goal and seventh of the current edition. The strike matched Messi’s tally for the tournament and gave Mbappé a second consecutive World Cup with at least seven goals.
Mbappé has now scored 11 goals in World Cup knockout matches. He also holds 63 goals in 103 appearances for the French national team, complemented by 42 assists.
The current World Cup top‑scorers list reads: Lionel Messi – 20 goals, Kylian Mbappé – 19, Miroslav Klose – 16, Ronaldo – 15, Gerd Müller – 14, Just Fontaine – 13, Pelé – 12.
With the race still undecided, the next round of matches will determine whether Mbappé can overtake Messi’s record. The competition remains open as the tournament progresses.