Mbappé scores another brace, chases Lionel Messi in World Cup history

Kylian Mbappé continues to etch his name in World Cup history, leading France to a decisive 3-0 victory over Iraq on June 22 and securing their advancement in the 2026 tournament. The Real Madrid forward delivered a standout performance, netting two goals just as he did in the opening match, proving instrumental in France's latest three points.

Beyond the scoreline, Mbappé's achievement carried significant historical weight. With his two goals against Iraq, he reached 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the second-highest scorer in the tournament's history. This milestone comes shortly after Lionel Messi set a new all-time record with 18 World Cup goals against Austria.

Mbappé now trails the Argentine superstar by just two goals. His ascent has been remarkable; prior to this match, he shared fourth place with Gerd Müller on 14 goals. His first against Iraq moved him past Ronaldo Nazário (15 goals), and his second equaled Klose, leaving only Messi ahead in the all-time standings. At 27, Mbappé's impressive progression suggests he has several more World Cups ahead of him.

The match against Iraq also marked Mbappé's 100th appearance for the French senior national team. France will conclude their group stage play on June 26 against Norway, a fixture that promises to be a highlight, featuring two of the tournament's top scorers: Mbappé and Erling Haaland. This presents another opportunity for the French forward to further extend his tally and close in on Messi's historic record.