Kylian Mbappé Just Joined Klose — and Only Messi Is Ahead Now
Four more goals, and Mbappé's career World Cup tally reaches 16 — level with Miroslav Klose, behind only Lionel Messi. At 27, he is rewriting the record book.
We are used to Kylian Mbappé doing remarkable things at World Cups — he announced himself at 19 in 2018, then scored a hat trick in the 2022 final and still ended up on the losing side. So maybe we should not be surprised that, at 27, he just climbed onto one of the sport's most exclusive lists.
Sixteen, and counting
With four goals in the group stage, Mbappé's career World Cup total reached 16 — drawing him level with Germany's Miroslav Klose, and leaving only Lionel Messi (18) ahead of him in the entire history of the men's tournament. He is 27. Klose set his mark across four World Cups into his mid-30s. Mbappé is there already.
France look dangerous again
France topped Group I ahead of Erling Haaland's Norway, and they have the look they always seem to have at this tournament: deep, fast, and captained by a man who treats the World Cup like his personal stage. Mbappé has now scored at three different World Cups before turning 28.
For the newcomers
If 2026 is your first World Cup: Mbappé is the player most likely to inherit the "best in the world" title as Messi and Ronaldo take their bows. He already has a winner's medal (2018) and a final hat trick (2022) — a résumé most players would take for an entire career. And he is right in the middle of the Golden Boot race, two behind Messi with the knockouts to come.
The torch this tournament keeps hinting at? Mbappé is standing right under it.
Figures as of June 24, 2026, group stage. Sources: ESPN, NBC Sports.