Last updated: July 2026
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France beat Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32, drawing him level with Lionel Messi at six goals apiece in one of the most gripping individual battles of the 2026 World Cup: the race for the adidas Golden Boot.
France were utterly in control against a limited Swedish side in New York, hitting the woodwork twice before Mbappe broke the deadlock right on half-time, finishing a slick move after Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise combined from a corner. Bradley Barcola doubled the lead eight minutes into the second half, before Olise turned provider again, threading a pass through for Mbappe to curl in his second of the night in the 74th minute.
The brace took Mbappe to 18 career World Cup goals, just one behind Messi’s all-time record of 19. With both superstars still alive in the tournament, the scoring battle looks set to run deep into the knockout rounds, adding another gripping subplot to a World Cup already packed with drama.
Mbappe celebrated his opening goal by running to embrace coach Didier Deschamps, who had missed France’s final group match to attend his mother’s funeral. Deschamps, who captained France to World Cup glory in 1998 and coached them to a second title in 2018, will step down at the end of the tournament after 14 years in charge.
France advanced to face Paraguay in the Round of 16, a repeat of their 1998 last-16 meeting on home soil. Whoever ends up ahead in the Golden Boot race, Messi or Mbappe, will add another remarkable chapter to two of the greatest World Cup scoring careers in history.
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Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are tied on six goals each after France’s Round of 32 win over Sweden, with Mbappe just one goal shy of Messi’s all-time World Cup scoring record.
France won 3-0, with two goals from Kylian Mbappe and one from Bradley Barcola.
Mbappe has built a reputation as one of football’s ultimate big-game players, and his performance against Sweden was another reminder of why he is considered the standout attacking talent of his generation. At just 27, with 18 World Cup goals already banked, he has time on his side to potentially surpass Messi’s all-time record in future tournaments.
The race for the adidas Golden Boot has produced some of football’s most memorable individual duels, and this year’s battle between Mbappe and Messi, two players who have already shared the stage in a World Cup final, adds another layer of intrigue to an already unforgettable rivalry.
Whatever happens from here, this scoring race will be remembered as one of the defining subplots of the entire tournament.
Watch this space.
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