World Cup 2026: Mbappé's Knockout Goals Surpass Four Football Superpowers Since 2018

Kylian Mbappé continues to etch his name in World Cup history, driving France into the quarterfinals of the 2026 tournament with a decisive 1-0 victory over Paraguay. The star forward converted a crucial penalty, securing his team's advancement.

Since his World Cup debut in 2018, Mbappé has amassed an impressive 19 goals. He is now just one goal shy of Lionel Messi's tally of 20. However, Mbappé's efficiency in the high-pressure knockout stages is particularly remarkable.

Of his 19 total goals, 11 have been scored in elimination matches. This figure notably surpasses the combined knockout-stage goal tallies of several football powerhouses since the 2018 World Cup. Brazil and England have each scored 10 knockout goals, Portugal has 9, and Spain has managed only 4 in this period, placing Mbappé's individual record above them all.

France is set to face Morocco in the quarterfinals. The match against Paraguay also highlighted Paraguay's unusual streak, having not achieved such a result in 28 years.

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Since the 2018 tournament, Kylian Mbappé has scored more goals in the knockout stages of the World Cup (11) than… Brazil (10) England (10) Portugal (9) Spain (4)