League: LaLiga Sport: Soccer Country: Italy Category: Scores & Results

Mbappe expresses sadness over Italy's absence from World Cup, aims for records

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 6, 2026, 1:20 PM

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

Mbappe expresses sadness over Italy's absence from World Cup, aims for records

Summary

Kylian Mbappe voiced his disappointment regarding Italy's absence from the 2026 World Cup, highlighting his affection for the country and its people. He shared that he feels a deep connection to Italy due to his experience with players like Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marco Verratti at Paris Saint-Germain. As he prepares for the tournament in North America, Mbappe is pursuing multiple records, including the all-time World Cup goals mark held by Miroslav Klose. He currently has 12 World Cup goals and aims to surpass Klose's 16, as well as target records set by Olivier Giroud and Just Fontaine.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Mbappe feels a deep connection to Italy through his former PSG teammates.
•He currently has 12 World Cup goals, chasing Klose's record of 16.
•The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams, allowing new nations to participate.
•Mbappe aims to break records for France's all-time top scorer during the tournament.
•He expressed regret over Italy's missed World Cup opportunity.

Latest Updates

1:20 PMYahoo Sports — Mbappe: ‘I am sorry for Italy – I love your country’ as Frenchman hunts Klose’s World Cup record

What they're saying

"
Kylian Mbappe has expressed genuine sadness over Italy’s absence from the 2026 World Cup, declaring his love for the country and its people as he prepares for what could be the most record-laden tou...
— Yahoo Sports

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