Kylian Mbappe of France has continued to break and equal several records at the current World Cup, following his goal against Morocco in Boston. His performance has positioned him as a leading figure in the tournament, drawing comparisons with Lionel Messi.
Mbappe’s goal in France’s 2-0 quarter-final victory against Morocco brought him level with Messi for the most non-penalty goals in the tournament. Both players now have 17 non-penalty goals across their World Cup appearances. This strike also increased Mbappe’s total to 20 overall goals in the World Cup, placing him one goal behind Messi on the all-time list.
French National Team Records
Mbappe became France’s all-time top goal scorer in just one World Cup outing. He surpassed Olivier Giroud after scoring against Senegal in France’s tournament opener. The Real Madrid forward now has 64 goals for the French national side, while Giroud has 57. Thierry Henry is third with 51 goals, and Antoine Griezmann is fourth with 44 goals.
He also holds the record for being France’s top goal scorer at the World Cup. His goal against Senegal marked his 14th World Cup goal, exceeding Just Fontaine’s record of 13 goals, all of which were scored in the 1958 World Cup. Since then, the number 10 has added six more goals, further extending his lead at the top of this list.
Mbappe is now a joint record holder for the most appearances for France in World Cup finals, matching Hugo Lloris with 20 appearances. With the semi-finals approaching, he is expected to surpass this record.
Knockout Stage and Goal Contributions
Mbappe broke another record with his first goal against Sweden, becoming the leading goal scorer in World Cup knockout matches. This achievement placed him above Brazilian players Leonidas and Ronaldo on the all-time list. He scored again against Sweden, followed by goals against Paraguay and Morocco, accumulating 12 World Cup knockout goals.
His assist for Ousmane Dembele’s goal against Morocco also set a new record. Mbappe became the first player to register 11 direct goal contributions in two different World Cups. He achieved double figures at the Qatar World Cup 2022 with eight goals and two assists, and has improved on these figures in the current tournament. He is the first player since records began in 1966 to achieve 10 or more goal contributions in two separate tournaments.
Golden Boot Race
Mbappe currently leads the Golden Boot standings, despite being level on goals with Messi. Both players have eight goals in the tournament. However, FIFA’s tie-breaking rules, which prioritize assists, place Mbappe ahead. The France captain has registered eight goals and three assists, totaling 11 direct goal contributions. Messi also has eight goals but one assist, bringing his total goal contributions to nine.
If the World Cup were to conclude with both players tied on eight goals, Mbappe would receive the Golden Boot due to his higher assist tally. The race for the Golden Boot remains open, with other contenders including Norway’s Erling Haaland with seven goals and England captain Harry Kane with six goals. Ousmane Dembele of France has five goals.
Mbappe’s strike against Morocco was his 20th career World Cup goal in 20 tournament appearances. Messi leads the all-time men’s World Cup scoring chart with 21 goals in 31 appearances across six editions. Mbappe’s latest goal also marked his 14th career World Cup knockout-stage goal contribution, drawing him level with Messi for the most by any player in the modern era over the past six decades.
The Golden Boot race is finely balanced on goals, but Mbappe’s three assists give him an advantage as the tournament progresses into its decisive final rounds.
Mbappe’s World Cup journey has been marked by serene performances, contrasting with Messi’s experience, which has often involved navigating chaotic matches. While Messi missed a penalty against Egypt, Mbappe also failed to convert a penalty against Morocco, with Yassine Bounou saving his effort. Despite this, Mbappe found the net later in the match, scoring past Bounou in the 60th minute.
France has progressed through the knockout stages without conceding a goal or being taken to extra-time. Mbappe’s composure was evident even after his missed penalty, as he continued to contribute to his team’s success. His performances have been crucial for France, who will play in the semi-finals next week.
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Source: aljazeera.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
