Goal machine... Mbappe threatens Messi's throne at the World Cup

The competition between France's Kylian Mbappé and Argentina's Lionel Messi for the title of all-time top scorer in the World Cup is intensifying. The French star continued his goal-scoring spree during the 2026 World Cup, bringing him closer to the top spot currently held by the Argentine legend. With the difference between the two stars being minimal, the coming days look set to witness a new chapter in one of the most prominent individual rivalries in the tournament's history, especially as Mbappé's exceptional scoring rate could propel him to the top spot in record time. Mbappé scored twice for France against Sweden in the Round of 32 of the current World Cup, bringing his tally to 18 goals in just 18 matches since his debut in the 2018 tournament. He is now just one goal away from equaling Lionel Messi's record of 19 goals in 29 matches since his first appearance in the 2006 edition. The French star's scoring rate reflects his brilliance at the World Cup, as he has managed to score a goal per game, a statistic that gives him a significant advantage in the race to become the all-time top scorer, should France continue their run in the tournament. Mbappé is now on the verge of a historic achievement that could see him top the World Cup scoring charts, further cementing his place in the tournament's history and intensifying the competition with Messi for one of the most significant records in football.

Here is a list of the top scorers in World Cup history:

Lionel Messi (Argentina/19 goals in 29 games, since 2006).

Kylian Mbappe (France/18 goals in 18 games, since 2018).

Miroslav Klose (Germany/16 goals in 24 matches, from 2002 to 2014).

Ronaldo (Brazil/15 goals in 19 games, from 1998 to 2006).

Gerd Müller (Germany/14 goals in 13 games, in 1970 and 1974).

Just Fontaine (France/13 goals in 6 matches, during the 1958 edition).