Home
Kylian Mbappe continued his relentless march into World Cup history on Tuesday. Real Madrid has continued to stun the fans and has now scored 16 career goals in the tournament. Following this, he has now equalled Germany legend Miroslav Klose for second place on the all-time list.
ADVERTISEMENT
The French superstar netted during France’s Group I victory over Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium, moving level with Klose. He now sits only behind Lionel Messi, who has tallied 18 World Cup goals.
Mbappe has been in scintillating form in the 2026 edition, scoring multiple goals early in the group stage and helping France advance to the knockout rounds. His latest strike came as part of a dominant display that saw France take a commanding lead.
Mbappe equals Klose’s World Cup goal record, trails only Messi as France beats Iraq
The moment sparked immediate buzz among fans, with many noting Mbappe’s extraordinary scoring rate and predicting he could challenge or surpass Messi’s tally before the tournament concludes. At his current pace, the Los Blancos forward, already a proven World Cup winner, appears poised to rewrite the record books in the coming years.
Klose previously held the outright record with 16 goals across four tournaments, a mark many once thought would stand for decades. With Mbappé and Messi both in action this summer, the all-time scoring leaderboard has been reshaped dramatically.
France will look to build on the momentum as they aim for another deep run, while Mbappe’s pursuit of the outright record adds extra intrigue to the 2026 World Cup. The match was halted due to a thunderstorm before it resumed, and Didier Deschamps’ side won 3-0.
ALSO READ: Weather forces first delay of 2026 World Cup match as France-Iraq clash halted in Philadelphia
ADVERTISEMENT
