Kylian Mbappe scored a brace as France defeated Sweden 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium in New York, securing their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mbappe's two goals brought his tournament tally to six, tying Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot lead, and set a new record for most knockout stage goals in World Cup history.
Mbappe's record-breaking performance
Mbappe opened the scoring in the 45th minute and added a second in the 74th minute, taking his career World Cup knockout stage goals to 10. This surpasses the previous record of eight held by Brazilian Ronaldo and Brazilian legend Leonidas. "Another rival sent off with a receipt! France wins against Sweden, and Kylian Mbappe is again doing what he can do best - sowing chaos in the defence of rivals," Mbappe wrote on Instagram after the match.
Deschamps returns to the touchline
France head coach Didier Deschamps returned to the bench after missing the final group game due to a family bereavement, following his mother's funeral. He watched his team systematically dismantle a stubborn Swedish defence, with Mbappe leading the charge. The victory maintained France's strong momentum in the tournament.
Mbappe's World Cup goal tally
Mbappe now has 18 goals in 18 World Cup appearances, leaving him one shy of Lionel Messi's all-time record of 19 goals, which Messi achieved in 29 matches. Mbappe's six goals in the 2026 tournament have him level with Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. According to ANI, Mbappe's knack for delivering when the stakes are highest has defined his international career, and his updated goal tallies paint a picture of a player performing at unprecedented efficiency.
