Kylian Mbappe opens up on enjoying 2026 World Cup as he closes in on Lionel Messi’s scoring record

Kylian Mbappe continued his sensational 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign by inspiring France to a convincing 3-0 victory over Sweden on Tuesday,

Kylian Mbappe continued his sensational 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign by inspiring France to a convincing 3-0 victory over Sweden on Tuesday, June 30, securing Les Bleus a place in the Round of 16.

The French captain delivered another standout performance, scoring twice to take his tournament tally to six goals. Mbappe opened the scoring just before halftime in the 45th minute before adding his second in the 74th minute. Bradley Barcola also found the net in the 53rd minute to seal an impressive win for France.

Mbappe’s latest brace has also brought him within touching distance of Lionel Messi’s all-time FIFA World Cup scoring record. The 27-year-old now has 18 career World Cup goals, leaving him just one strike behind Messi’s record of 19.

Messi reached the milestone after surpassing Germany legend Miroslav Klose during Argentina’s final group-stage match against Jordan on June 27. The Argentine superstar also became the first player in football history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches, further cementing his remarkable legacy.

Despite edging closer to another historic achievement, Mbappe insisted that personal milestones are not his main focus. Speaking after France’s victory, the reigning FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner said he is enjoying this edition of the tournament more than any previous one while maintaining his desire to perform at the highest level.

“I did say that I wanted to enjoy this World Cup to the fullest. I’m not saying that the other World Cups I did not enjoy, but I was younger. I was focused then on delivering the best performances. Today, I believe I can do both—play well and enjoy the experience,” Mbappe said.

The forward admitted he was pleased with his performance but stressed that France’s progress remains the priority.

“I’m happy, but it’s not the most important thing today. We continued delivering great performances. This game was important because a new competition begins with the knockout stage. Now we have to focus on Paraguay. We have another game to win,” he added.

France will next face Paraguay in the Round of 16 after the South American side pulled off a dramatic upset by defeating Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout. The knockout clash is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with kickoff set for 5:00 p.m. ET.

France head coach Didier Deschamps praised his squad’s mentality following the comfortable victory but acknowledged tougher challenges lie ahead.

“Team France has excellent players, and when they play with this level of concentration and determination, it is very encouraging. The teams we face from now on will be stronger, so we still need to improve certain aspects of our game,” Deschamps said.

Meanwhile, the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot has become increasingly competitive. Mbappe now shares the lead with Messi on six goals but tops the standings thanks to his two assists. Norway striker Erling Haaland also has six goals and will look to strengthen his challenge when Norway face Brazil in the knockout stage. France’s Ousmane Dembélé and Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior remain in contention as well, with four goals each.