Twelve years have passed since the previous World Cup scoring record was established, but that milestone is now facing the imminent threat of being surpassed. The race for the most goals in a World Cup career has turned into an intense rivalry between the player who recently set the record and his primary challenger.
In his sixth and widely anticipated final World Cup appearance, 39-year-old Argentinian star Lionel Messi has already netted five goals, including a hat trick during his opening match. This performance pushed him past Miroslav Klose’s 2014 benchmark of 16 World Cup goals. Close behind him is Kylian Mbappé of the French national team, who has tallied 16 total goals in the competition, with four of those coming in the tournament’s first two games. The two athletes entered this event with similar career tallies, as Messi held 13 goals and Mbappé had 12. However, Messi has benefitted from more playing time, as this represents his sixth tournament compared to Mbappé’s third.
The final outcome of this goal-scoring race may hinge on how far their respective teams advance in the bracket. Both squads are considered top contenders for the title, with sportsbooks currently favoring France, followed closely by Argentina. The 2022 World Cup final in Qatar marked the last time these two icons faced one another on the field. Although Argentina secured the trophy, Mbappé managed to record a hat trick, marking only the second instance of such a feat in the history of the World Cup.
Messi, who holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or awards with eight, is also the first individual to participate in six different World Cups. During the current tournament, 27-year-old Mbappé became France’s all-time leading goal scorer, surpassing Olivier Giroud’s record of 58 goals following a two-goal performance in a 3-1 victory against Senegal on June 16.
In terms of efficiency, Messi averages two goals for every three games played across his 28 tournament appearances. Mbappé, having competed in 16 matches, maintains an average of roughly one goal per game. While Mbappé holds the record for four goals scored in World Cup finals, Messi maintains a higher frequency of assists. Messi contributes an assist roughly once every four games, whereas Mbappé averages one every eight.
Despite the frequent comparisons, Mbappé holds his rival in high regard. When asked by reporters on Sunday to identify the greatest player among current stars like Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Messi, and himself, Mbappé answered without hesitation: “Lionel Messi. It’s clear.”
