Mbappé closes in on Messi's World Cup record after scoring against Paraguay

Kylian Mbappé continues his dominant World Cup 2026 campaign, scoring a crucial penalty against Paraguay to secure France's quarterfinal berth.

The Real Madrid forward converted a penalty in the 70th minute, breaking a deadlock and ultimately leading France to a 1-0 victory. This goal marked Mbappé's 19th in World Cup history, placing him just one goal behind Lionel Messi's all-time record of 20.

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Kylian Mbappé continues his unstoppable run in the 2026 World Cup with the French national team and was once again a protagonist in the round of 16.

Mbappé has been instrumental throughout the tournament. In the Round of 16 match against Paraguay, he converted the penalty that sealed France's advancement. Paraguay, managed by Gustavo Alfaro, had previously upset Germany in the group stage but could not contain the French attack.

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With his goal against Paraguay, Kylian Mbappé reached 19 goals in World Cups.

This latest goal adds to Mbappé's impressive World Cup tally. He scored six goals in France's 2018 victory, eight in the 2022 tournament where France reached the final, and has already netted seven goals in the current edition. His total of 19 goals surpasses Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16.

France is set to face Morocco in the quarterfinals. Mbappé has scored against four of the five nations France has played in this World Cup, with only Norway being an exception. The French team secured their place in the quarterfinals after a strong performance against Paraguay.

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With the 19 goals, Kylian Mbappé is one goal away from Lionel Messi, the all-time leading scorer in the World Cup.