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Sport: SoccerCountry: ItalyCategory: Scores & Results

Kylian Mbappe chases Lionel Messi's World Cup goal record in 2026

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 3, 2026, 9:21 AM

Last updated Jul 3, 2026

Kylian Mbappe chases Lionel Messi's World Cup goal record in 2026
Summary

Kylian Mbappe trails Lionel Messi by one goal in the World Cup scoring record chase. As of July 2, Messi has 19 goals while Mbappe has 18. Both surpassed Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 goals earlier in the tournament. However, the challenge for Mbappe lies in maintaining his scoring ability as he approaches age 31 by the 2030 World Cup. Historical data shows that scoring tends to decline after 31, and injuries can also impact player performance.

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By the Numbers
  • •Mbappe has 18 World Cup goals, Messi has 19 as of July 2.
  • •Both players surpassed Miroslav Klose's record in the current tournament.
  • •Mbappe will turn 31 during the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
  • •Only 12% of World Cup goal scorers are age 31 or older.
  • •Historical examples show injuries can alter a player's scoring trajectory.
Latest Updates
  • 9:21 AMYahoo Sports — Can Kylian Mbappe catch Lionel Messi's World Cup goals record?
What they're saying
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Kylian Mbappe is one goal behind Lionel Messi in the World Cup record chase, but history shows scoring gets harder after age 31.

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