Mbappé vs. Messi: Who will kick their way to the World Cup goal record?

It took 12 years to break this World Cup record, and then it was broken again.

The record for most goals scored in a World Cup career turned into a battle between the man who set the new record in June and the man who, weeks later, set it again.

In his sixth and widely expected final World Cup, Argentine Lionel Messi, 39, found the net eight times for 21 career World Cup scores, catapulting him past Miroslav Klose’s 2014 record of 16 World Cup goals.

But Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, a forward for Les Bleus, closed the gap and leads with 22 career World Cup goals. Mbappé scored four of those in the first two games of this tournament. Both men entered the tournament neck and neck, with 13 previous World Cup goals for Messi and 12 for Mbappé. Messi has had more opportunities: This is his sixth World Cup, while it’s Mbappé’s third.

The 2022 World Cup final, in Qatar, was the last time the two went head to head on the pitch. Argentina took home the trophy, but Mbappé earned a hat trick, only the second such feat in World Cup history.

Messi has played in six World Cups, and he has won the prestigious Ballon d’Or (“Golden Ball”) award a record eight times in his decadeslong professional career.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

During this year’s cup, Mbappé, 27, became the French national team’s all-time top goal scorer. He surpassed Olivier Giroud’s record of 58 goals with two strikes in a 3-1 win over Senegal on June 16.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

Across his 34 World Cup appearances, Messi averages about two goals per three games played. Mbappé, who has logged 22 World Cup matches, averages about one per game.

Mbappé holds the record for most goals scored during World Cup finals with four. Messi, on the other hand, has more World Cup assists. With nine assists in his World Cup career, Messi records an assist about one every four games. Mbappé, with five assists in his World Cup appearances, averages an assist every four games.

Mbappé is often pitted against Messi, especially as he creeps up on the legend’s long list of records. When reporters asked Mbappé on June 22 who is the best among this World Cup’s stars — Messi, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and himself — he didn’t flinch in his response: “Lionel Messi. It’s clear.”