.svg.png){kind=logo}
Kylian Mbappé broke the record for most goals in World Cup knockout matches and moved within a single goal of Lionel Messi’s overall tournament mark, as his two goals led France to a dominant 3-0 win over Sweden at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, ESPN reports.
Mbappé’s first goal means he has scored nine goals in nine knockout stage games at the FIFA World Cup – now the most of any player in these rounds, overtaking Brazilian greats Leônidas and Ronaldo (both eight goals).
The victory, France’s biggest in a World Cup knockout match since their 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 final, sets up a round-of-16 matchup against Germany’s conquerors Paraguay on July 4 in Philadelphia.
After a give-and-go with Ousmane Dembélé, Mbappé scored on a brilliant individual effort in the 45th minute. Mbappé crossed over Viktor Gyökeres before firing his shot past Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström.
That was the Real Madrid star’s ninth goal in the knockout stage of the World Cup, breaking a tie with Brazilian greats Leonidas and Ronaldo for the most in the history of the tournament.
The 27-year-old Mbappé ran immediately to coach Didier Deschamps after scoring. This was Deschamps’ first game back on the sideline after missing the group stage finale against Norway to fly back to Europe for his mother’s funeral.
Also Read: World Cup 2026: Kane, Mbappe Will Fight For Golden Boot Award –Leboeuf
But Mbappé wasn’t done yet. After Bradley Barcola scored France’s second goal early in the second half, Mbappé added a classy third in the 74th minute, latching onto a perfectly weighted pass from Michael Olise and finishing expertly into the far side of the net.
Mbappé’s sixth goal of this year’s tournament tied him with Argentina forward Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. With 18 goals in 18 World Cup games, he moved one behind Messi on the all-time scoring list. Messi has played in 29 World Cup games in his career.
Olise also provided an assist on Barcola’s goal to move onto five assists for the tournament — the most by a single player at a men’s World Cup since Thomas Hässler for Germany in 1994.
3 Comments
MBAPPE = 6 GOALS
MESSI = 6 GOALS
HAALAND = 5 GOALS
OSIMHEN = ?????????
Is Mbappe the greatest world cup player ever? Arguably so.
Messi may be the best ever, but when it comes to world cup, Mbappe is the man. World cup is Mbappe’s house.
18 goals in 18 world cup games is nothing to sneeze at.
Dude is the dictionary definition of a “big game player”. When it matters, he shows up. Unlike our own so called stars who vanish in big games. Mbappe thrives in high pressure situations.
Unfortunately for French opponents, Mbappe is not the only threat they have to face. The French squad is so loaded with talent, the likes of Cherki and Mateta have to be content with sub appearances. Mbappe, Dembele, Doue, Barcola, Olise are all fit and firing. The trophy will soon be in their possession. Unless they beat themselves. Or another team produces a performance of a lifetime.
See Oliseh always moved the ball forward without sideways and little or no back passes. We have not had a player of his kind since Kanu and Okocha retired.
I remembered Mikel –Ighalo combo goal against Cameroon in 2018 WCQ. CLASS.
All we are saying, give us a quality number 10.