Kylian Mbappé scored twice against Sweden in the 2026 World Cup round of 32, giving France a late lead and moving within one goal of Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup scoring record.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The clock ticked toward halftime. and then Kylian Mbappé cut through Sweden again. turning open space into a goal just before the break. In the 45th minute of Tuesday’s round of 32 match. he beat Blågult goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom at the net after dancing his way through Sweden’s defense. lifting France to a 1-0 lead.
It was Mbappé’s ninth goal in a World Cup knockout round, setting a tournament record for an individual player. He also made it his fifth goal of the 2026 World Cup and. in the process. passed Germany great Miroslav Klose for second-most men’s World Cup goals in history—now sitting behind only Lionel Messi’s 19 World Cup goals for Argentina.
France had already threatened earlier. In the 20th minute. Mbappé broke off from Sweden’s defense at midfield with nothing but open grass ahead. but the play was waved off for offside. Then the pressure turned sharper: shortly after. Mbappé hit the post. and after that close call his celebration briefly began before the ball ever settled fully in the net.
The first goal capped a half where he. too. had come up short earlier. and it marked a personal milestone as well. With that strike, his tally became 61 for Les Bleus in his career, adding to his France all-time scoring record. It was also the third match of the tournament in which the Real Madrid forward has found the back of the net for France.
The day didn’t end at halftime. In the 74th minute. Mbappé buried another shot past Widell Zetterstrom to take his World Cup goal count to 18—moving within one goal of Messi’s record. It was the third brace of the tournament for Mbappé. and it transformed France’s evening into something closer to inevitability.
Between those moments, France’s tournament run set the stage. Mbappé helped Les Bleus reach the knockout round for the fourth consecutive World Cup cycle. France won Group I with nine points after wins over Senegal, Iraq and Norway.
If France defeats Sweden on Tuesday, it will play Paraguay on Saturday, July 4, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Kylian Mbappé Sweden France World Cup 2026 round of 32 Jacob Widell Zetterstrom Lionel Messi Miroslav Klose Real Madrid Lincoln Financial Field Paraguay