Mbappé, within striking distance of another record: all-time top scorer in World Cup knockout matches.
East Rutherford (USA), June 29 (EFE)
Kylian Mbappé, star of the French national team, has his sights set on a new record that he currently shares with two Brazilian legends: being the all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifying matches.
This Tuesday, in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup against Sweden in New Jersey, the Real Madrid striker will have his first opportunity to lead this record alone, which he currently holds alongside Leônidas da Silva and Ronaldo Nazário.
Bondy’s talent has scored eight goals in the knockout rounds of his only two World Cup appearances: Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
In Russia, where he was crowned champion, he scored two against Argentina in the round of 16 and another one in the final against Croatia.
Four years later, already as the absolute leader of ‘Les Bleus’, he scored twice against Poland in the round of 16 and three times against Argentina in the final that gave the Albiceleste their third star, despite the superb performance of the then Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker.
Therefore, eight goals in eight knockout matches. At 27 years old, it will be difficult for him not to add to his tally in the knockout stages of football’s biggest tournament.
Where is Messi?
Furthermore, Kylian has an advantage in this area over Lionel Messi, who has five goals in 12 knockout matches, although he is currently the all-time top scorer in World Cups, with 19.
Returning to the crosses, Mbappé surpasses Pelé by one and has an even better average than Ronaldo Nazário, who scored eight in ten matches.
‘O Fenômeno’ was present in four editions between 1994 and 2006. In three of them, the Canarinha reached the final and in two they won the title.
The former Real Madrid and FC Barcelona striker did not play any minutes in USA 1994, although he showed his full potential in France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002.
He scored three in the 1998 knockout rounds, when France beat Brazil in the final. In 2002, he scored another four, two of them in the decisive match against Germany.
Ronaldo Nazario and Leonidas da Silva
At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which marked his farewell to the tournament, he only scored once, in the round of 16 against Ghana. Of the 15 goals Ronaldo has scored in total in World Cups, more than half were penalty kicks.
Even more remote is the record of Leônidas da Silva, considered one of the first stars of world football.
The striker from Rio de Janeiro played in the 1934 and 1938 editions, a time when there was no group stage. Italy won both tournaments.
In the first round, Brazil lost their opening match against Spain (3-1). The ‘Black Diamond’ scored Brazil’s consolation goal.
He exploded onto the scene in 1938, scoring seven goals in just four matches. Brazil, without stars on their jersey at that time, finished third in the championship, their first major result.
– Top scorers in World Cup knockout matches:
8 goals: Leônidas da Silva, Ronaldo Nazário and Kylian Mbappé.
7 goals: Pelé, Vavá, Just Fontaine and Oldřich Nejedlý.
6 goals: Eusébio, György Sárosi, Gary Lineker and Roberto Baggio.
5 goals: Lionel Messi, Silvio Piola, Gyula Zsengellér, Helmut Rahn, Thomas Müller, Zinedine Zidane, Wesley Sneijder and Miroslav Klose. EFE
