Mbappé names – Kylian Mbappé, after scoring twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal at MetLife Stadium, said Lionel Messi is the best player in the world. He also moved closer to World Cup scoring milestones as France begins its Group I campaign toward its 2026 ambitions.
PHILADELPHIA — Kylian Mbappé walked into a Sunday media availability with two things still fresh: the sound of a packed MetLife Stadium crowd and the momentum of a second-half burst that put France in front of Senegal in a 3-1 win last Tuesday.
The goals did more than deliver three points. They pushed Mbappé into a position he’s chasing with history in mind: he became his country’s all-time leading scorer, and he climbed to fourth on the World Cup’s all-time scoring list.
Asked to name the world’s best player among Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo. Harry Kane and himself. the Real Madrid star didn’t dodge the spotlight. “The best of the four players?. Lionel Messi,” Mbappé said at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, then chuckled briefly. “It’s clear. He’s the best in the world with Cristiano [Ronaldo], it’s clear.”.
Mbappé framed it as both admiration and motivation. “He’s shown during 15 years that he has an amazing quality,” he said. “Me, I try to do what I can do, I show my quality on the biggest stage, helping my team to win another World Cup.”
France’s next move comes fast. Mbappé enters France’s Group I game against Iraq with 14 career World Cup goals—two shy of Messi’s record. Messi and Argentina have a separate Group J task this week, set for Monday at 1 p.m. ET against Austria.
Later in the week, Mbappé’s focus shifts again within France’s group schedule. France will face Norway in its third and final group stage match, with Mbappé set to go head-to-head with Norway’s Erling Haaland in the matchup slated for Boston.
Even with goals stacked behind him and a record he’s nearly touching, Mbappé didn’t lean into deciding debates. When asked about who belongs next after Messi, he said it’s not something he’s trying to settle. “The rest is a debate for the people. a debate for the journalists. a debate for the fans of fútbol. ” he said. “And I think it is good to debate about the players to see who is the best, who performed better.”.
“But for me, it’s not a question in my head,” Mbappé added. “It’s just about how I can help my team tomorrow against Iraq and how I can bring the trophy home in July.”
The numbers tell a story that mirrors the confidence in his voice. In the all-time World Cup goal scorers list. Miroslav Klose of Germany leads with 16. followed by Lionel Messi of Argentina with 16. Ronaldo, listed with 15 for Brazil, comes next, then Gerd Muller of West Germany and Mbappé for France with 14. Just Fontaine of France has 13; Pele has 12 for Brazil.
The list continues: Sandor Kocsis and Jurgen Klinsmann. tied with 11 each for Hungary and West Germany respectively; then Helmut Rahn and Gary Lineker. both with 10 for West Germany and England; and a long cluster of 10-goal players including Gabriel Batistuta and Teofilo Cubillas. along with Thomas Muller and Grzergorz Lato—each listed with 10 for Argentina. Peru. Germany. and Poland respectively.
That history sits beside Mbappé’s current standing with France and his longer arc beyond the tournament in the spotlight. A few inches in Qatar are what separate Mbappé and France from back-to-back championships—an outcome that fuels a different narrative around his performance in the final. Les Bleus enter the next World Cup cycle among the favorites entering the 2026 World Cup. and Mbappé is described as key to their hopes in North America as he’s set to pass 100 international appearances at age 27.
Entering the 2026 World Cup, the 27-year-old has scored 56 goals in 96 international matches. His pro club is Real Madrid.
France’s 2026 World Cup schedule begins with Game 1: France 3, Senegal 1 (RECAP). Game 2 is against Iraq on Monday, June 22 at 5 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with Fox as the broadcaster (Fubo also carries it). Game 3 is against Norway on Friday, June 26 at 3 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., also on Fox (Fubo).
Streaming is available on Fubo or the Fox One App. Spanish-language broadcasts are available on Telemundo and Peacock, the latter being NBC’s subscription streaming service.
For viewers tracking the tournament picture, World Cup standings are presented with live group standings, stats, and an updated bracket through live coverage tied to the event’s ongoing updates, while full rosters for 2026 World Cup Teams are also part of the broader matchweek coverage.
France’s opening statement has already been made on the field. Now Mbappé’s answer about the best player in the world—Messi—lands alongside the more immediate question he keeps returning to: how he helps France against Iraq, and how he aims to bring the trophy home in July.
Kylian Mbappé Lionel Messi France vs Iraq World Cup 2026 MetLife Stadium Lincoln Financial Field World Cup goal scorers Erling Haaland Cristiano Ronaldo Harry Kane