Kylian Mbappé passes Lionel Messi on all-time World Cup goals list, closes in on Miroslav Klose's record
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are currently locked in a high-stakes race for the all-time World Cup goal-scoring record. Following a series of matches, Messi has tied Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals, narrowly staying ahead of Mbappé's recent surge.
Why it matters
The rivalry between two of the world's most prominent soccer players highlights the competitive nature of international sports and the historical significance of World Cup records.
Sean Leahy · Jason Owens Wed, June 17, 2026 at 2:54 AM UTC · 2 min read Not so fast, Kylian Mbappé .
The report is a standard sports recap focusing on statistics and match outcomes without subjective commentary.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in