Kylian Mbappe moved past Miroslav Klose on the FIFA World Cup scoring chart after finding the net for France against Sweden in the Round of 32 in New Jersey on Tuesday. The French captain struck twice to reach 18 World Cup goals, putting him second on the all-time list behind Lionel Messi, who has 19.

The Real Madrid forward has now scored five times at the FIFA World Cup 2026. He struck twice against Senegal and twice against Iraq in the group stage before adding another in the knockout round. France’s latest campaign has again underlined its remarkable consistency on football’s biggest stage.

Mbappe climbs World Cup scoring list

Mbappe’s rise is striking because of the speed at which he has reached the mark. Klose’s 16 goals came across four World Cups for Germany. Mbappe has gone beyond that total while still in the prime years of his career, strengthening his case as one of the tournament’s greatest forwards.

His World Cup record began in 2018, when he scored four goals and helped France win the title in Russia. He also became the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score in a World Cup final, a moment that announced him as a generational player.

Four years later in Qatar, Mbappe finished as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals. His hat-trick against Argentina in the final remains one of the most dramatic individual performances in World Cup history, even though France lost the match on penalties.

Knockout record adds to Mbappe’s legacy

Mbappe’s goal against Sweden also lifted him to nine goals in World Cup knockout matches. That moved him ahead of Brazilian greats Leonidas and Ronaldo Nazario, who both had eight. It is another sign of his ability to score under the highest pressure.

With France still alive in the tournament, Mbappe has the chance to close the gap on Messi’s record. His latest goal does more than improve a personal tally. It keeps France’s attack centred around a player who continues to shape World Cup history with rare regularity.