Mbappé reaches – Kylian Mbappé scored twice for France against Iraq on Monday to reach 16 World Cup goals, tying Miroslav Klose for second in tournament history as Lionel Messi set a new record earlier in the day.
PHILADELPHIA — Kylian Mbappé didn’t just add to the scoreboard on Monday. He did it in the exact rhythm that has followed him through three World Cups: early strike, breakthrough moment, then another one to keep pace with the record he’s chasing.
Mbappé scored twice to reach 16 World Cup goals, moving into a tie for second most in tournament history as the 27-year-old France forward tried to stay close to Lionel Messi, the new record holder.
Against Iraq, Mbappé struck in the 14th minute to give France a 1-0 lead in his 100th international game. The match then stalled after a weather delay pushed halftime to more than two hours. When play resumed, Mbappé found the net again in the 54th minute.
That second goal mattered for more than the margin. It put Mbappé level with Miroslav Klose of Germany, whose goals record had stood until this high-scoring World Cup began.
Earlier on Monday, Messi scored twice for Argentina to set the tournament record at 18. Messi had also equaled Klose with his first World Cup hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria last Tuesday night in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mbappé’s first goal came from about 20 yards out, a left-footed strike that beat Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil. Basil made his first start in the tournament after captain Jalal Hassan allowed all four goals in Iraq’s 4-1 loss to Norway.
For Mbappé’s second, the chance opened because of a mistake. Iraq’s defender Zaid Tahseen played a poor pass to his goalkeeper. Ousmane Dembélé controlled the loose ball and fed Mbappé, who tapped it in with his right foot.
France arrived at this tournament with Mbappé supported up front by Désiré Doué and reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé. and the team was listed as a co-favorite with Spain. Mbappé has already helped France win the World Cup in 2018 and reach the final in 2022. when he was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player.
This year, Mbappé has now scored four World Cup goals. He has eight in 2022, when he won the Golden Boot as the top scorer, and four in 2018. His World Cup tally overall brings his international goals total to 59, two more than Oliver Giroud for the most in France’s history.
Mbappé added to his record books in France’s tournament-opening 3-1 victory over Senegal. when he scored his 13th and 14th World Cup goals. His performance keeps him moving through the kind of milestones that turn individual games into something bigger: the ongoing race for the sport’s most enduring mark. and the way a match can change a history line in a single afternoon.
Kylian Mbappé France Iraq World Cup goals Lionel Messi Miroslav Klose Ahmed Basil Jalal Hassan Zaid Tahseen Ousmane Dembélé Désiré Doué
Mbappé is a cheat code. 16 goals already, like come on.
Wait I thought Messi already broke the record earlier, so how is Mbappé chasing him? Like are they updating this stuff mid-day? Also that Iraq game got delayed right? Weather delays always mess up my bracket lol.
The 14th minute goal… wasn’t that offside though? I swear I saw something like that. And the weather delay thing makes it feel like it wasn’t really “fair,” idk.
I’m confused why this says Mbappé reached 16 World Cup goals but then talks about Klose and Messi like it’s all the same number game. Also Iraq’s goalie named Ahmed Basil sounds like a basketball player? And the article keeps saying a mistake led to the second goal, but maybe that wasn’t even a mistake, maybe France just had better vibes.