Kylian Mbappé is closing in on the title of top scorer in men’s World Cup history, trailing behind the player he refers to as “the best,” Lionel Messi.
In their first match, Messi, 38, netted a hat trick against Algeria, leading Argentina to a 3-0 victory and tying Miroslav Klose’s record with 16 World Cup goals.
Mbappé, who previously played alongside Messi at Paris Saint-Germain, has tallied 14 goals after scoring twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal.
“I always knew Messi would continue to find the back of the net,” Mbappé, 27, stated. “He consistently does. He’s leading, and I’m trailing. I will keep scoring to assist my national team in advancing as far as possible.”
Mbappé expressed that he wasn’t surprised by Messi’s remarkable performance against Algeria.
“It’s evident that Messi is the best in the world, along with [Portugal captain] Cristiano [Ronaldo],” said the France captain. “For 16 years, Messi has demonstrated his exceptional talent. I’m just focusing on showcasing my skills on this significant stage and supporting my national team.”
“When you score goals, your chances of progressing improve, and I aim to win the World Cup.”
Mbappé previously celebrated a World Cup victory in 2018 but faced defeat against Messi and Argentina in 2022, losing in the final after a penalty shootout.
The forward is also set to reach a milestone of 100 appearances on Monday against Iraq in their Group I encounter in Philadelphia.
“Achieving 100 caps is a historic milestone, especially at a World Cup,” said the Real Madrid star. “Nothing is more significant than representing your national team.”
“This match will be special for me, but we need a win to qualify.”
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