Kylian Mbappe says he’s “conscious of the statistics” and follows the media protection of his golden boot race with Lionel Messi on the World Cup 2026, the place the striker needs to “go down in historical past” by profitable a second title in three editions of the match.
Captain Mbappe scored twice as Les Bleus breezed past Sweden 3-0 within the final 32 in New Jersey on Tuesday, shifting stage with Argentina counterpart Messi, who scored as soon as towards Jordan on Sunday, because the six-goal prime scorer on the finals.
“I’m certain that Leo goes to attain extra objectives, so I don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to that,” mentioned Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick within the 2022 last as France misplaced to Argentina in Lusail, with Messi netting twice in that recreation.
“I understand how vital a World Cup is to a rustic and I’ve all the time mentioned that my purpose is to make historical past for my nation.
“I’ve completed it as soon as and I got here shut in Qatar. We are able to go down in our nation’s historical past.”
World Cup 2026: France ‘wish to assist’ Mbappe vs Messi
Teammate Malo Gusto mentioned France’s squad are “not shocked” that their talisman is vying with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner to win the golden boot.
“If you end up of Kylian’s calibre, you owe it to your self to chase the objectives, the trophies, all of that,” mentioned the Chelsea right-back.
“We, as gamers, wish to assist him with that, after all. So long as it carries the group, we’ll take it, fairly merely. We’re comfortable for him.”
Messi has turn out to be the all-time World Cup scorer since beginning his marketing campaign with a hat-trick towards Algeria, taking his whole to 19.
Second-placed Mbappe is 2 away from any participant in historical past, on 18, and has seven greater than the next-most prolific energetic participant at World Cup tournaments, England’s Harry Kane.
“I’m conscious of the statistics,” admitted the 27-year-old. “Everyone seems to be speaking about them and I watch TV too.
“I focus extra on the opponents we would face and the way shut we’re to our purpose, which is the ultimate.”
World Cup 2026 golden boot standings
Right here’s how the standings look earlier than England face DR Congo within the final 32. Gamers stage on objectives are separated by assists.
| Participant | Nation | Targets | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | France | 6 | 2 |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 6 | 0 |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 5 | 0 |
| Ousmane Dembele | France | 4 | 2 |
| Vinicius Junior | Brazil | 4 | 1 |
| Johan Manzambi | Switzerland | 3 | 1 |
| Ismaila Sarr | Senegal | 3 | 1 |
| Julian Quinones | Mexico | 3 | 1 |
| Matheus Cunha | Brazil | 3 | 0 |
| Jonathan David | Canada | 3 | 0 |
| Harry Kane | England | 3 | 0 |
| Yoane Wissa | DR Congo | 3 | 0 |
France vs Sweden: World Cup contenders ‘not invincible’
Bradley Barcola additionally scored and Michael Olise arrange two objectives as France continued their good begin to the finals, having scored 13 occasions in 4 matches.
“He did Michael issues once more tonight,” Gusto mentioned of Olise, calling the Bayern ahead’s show “magnificent”. “Michael helped the group rather a lot, as standard. We’re very proud to have this sort of participant.”
Head coach Didier Deschamps returned after lacking his aspect’s 4-1 win over Norway on matchday three following the dying of his mom.
“I feel Kylian did that to assist the coach,” mentioned Gusto, reflecting on Mbappe’s embrace of Deschamps after his first purpose.
“It was a tough second for him, so it was as much as us to additionally return the favour. We did that very effectively.”
France vs Paraguay: World Cup spherical of 16
France are in Philadelphia for the final 16 on Saturday to face Paraguay, who knocked four-time champions Germany out on penalties.
“We actually mustn’t suppose that it’s going to be simple,” warned Gusto. “They managed to get rid of Germany.
“We all know they’ve quite a lot of high quality, so it’s going to be as much as us to remain centered and work as laborious as potential to have the ability to get by means of.
“We don’t really feel invincible. It might be reckless to say that, however we’ve got confidence on our aspect. We all know tha the entire French public is behind us, too.”
World Cup 2026: When is France vs Paraguay?
Right here’s when the sport takes place in several territories. The winners will meet Canada or Morocco within the quarter-finals in Boston on July 9 (21:00 BST).
| Date | Venue | BST begin time | ET | PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, July 4 | Lincoln Monetary Discipline | 22:00 | 17:00 | 14:00 |
