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Kylian Mbappe matches Lionel Messi World Cup goalscoring record.
Kylian Mbappe tied Lionel Messi’s record for most goals scored at a World Cup as France defeated Poland 3-1 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup knockout rounds.
With his first-half goal, Olivier Giroud surpassed Hugo Lloris as the top-scoring male player in the country’s history. Antoine Griezmann also set the record for most consecutive appearances for Les Bleus, and teenage Kylian Mbappe made the history of his own.
With his astonishing second-half brace, the 23-year-old equalled Lionel Messi’s World Cup goal total of nine surpassed Pele’s record of eight and beat Diego Maradona and Cristiano Ronaldo’s eight World Cup goals.
The fact that these nine goals have been scored in just 11 tournament appearances is what most people find astounding.
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It took Lionel Messi 23 games in five World Cups to reach that figure, while the only four players to have scored nine World Cup goals in fewer games are Eusebio (6), Ademir (6), Christian Vieri (9) and Vava (10).
9 goals in 11 World Cup games for Kylian Mbappe.
Reached that 9 goal mark in 12 less games than Lionel Messi and in 3 less tournaments.
Only 4 players to have scored 9 World Cup goals in less games are Eusebio, Christian Vieri, Vava and Ademir
— Jack Gallagher (@calciolovesjack) December 4, 2022
The legendary R9 Ronaldo averaged 0.79 goals per game whereas Mbappe is currently averaging 0.82, making him the player with the best goals-per-game record in the tournament.
The PSG star, who is only 23 years old, has once won the World Cup and, along with Pele, became the second-youngest player to score in a World Cup final. Thanks to his performance in Qatar, the current champions are now among the favourites to defend the trophy.