Can Kylian Mbappé Break the World Cup Goal Record in 2026?

TL;DR: Yes — it is realistically within reach. Kylian Mbappé has 14 career World Cup goals (4 in 2018, 8 in 2022, 2 so far in 2026) and needs 3 more to pass Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16. At his career rate of roughly 0.86 goals per World Cup game, and with France among the title favorites for a deep run, Mbappé could break the record during the 2026 tournament. Lionel Messi, however, has already matched Klose on 16 and could claim it first.

Table of Contents

1. Quick answer: can he do it?
2. All-time World Cup top scorers
3. Mbappé's World Cup goals by tournament
4. The Messi factor
5. FAQ

Last updated: June 18, 2026

Quick answer: can he do it?

Yes, and it may be the defining storyline of the 2026 World Cup. Mbappé sits on 14 career World Cup goals after a brace in France's 3-1 win over Senegal. He needs 3 more to reach 17 and pass Miroslav Klose's record of 16. Given France's status as one of the tournament favorites — and Mbappé's remarkable scoring rate — a deep French run would give him the matches to get there.

All-time World Cup top scorers

Player	Country	WC goals
Miroslav Klose	Germany	16
Lionel Messi	Argentina	16
Ronaldo Nazário	Brazil	15
Kylian Mbappé	France	14
Gerd Müller	Germany	14

Messi drew level with Klose's record via his hat-trick against Algeria, so two active players are now chasing the outright mark.

Mbappé's World Cup goals by tournament

Tournament	Age	Goals
2018 (champion)	19	4
2022 (runner-up, won Golden Boot)	23	8
2026 (so far)	—	2
Career total	—	14

Mbappé has scored 14 goals in just 15 World Cup matches — a rate of roughly 0.86 per game. If he maintains that pace and France reach the latter stages, 3 more goals is a very achievable target.

The Messi factor

The record race is not Mbappé's alone. Lionel Messi has already matched Klose on 16 goals and needs only one more to take the record outright. So Mbappé may have to break not just Klose's mark but also whatever total Messi finishes on. It sets up one of the great individual subplots of the tournament — two of the era's defining forwards chasing history at the same World Cup.

For the full title picture and odds, see our World Cup 2026 predictions guide. Daily AI predictions for every France match are on the AI football predictions hub and today's predictions; follow games on the live scores page.

Frequently asked questions

How many World Cup goals does Mbappé have? 14 in total — 4 in 2018, 8 in 2022, and 2 so far in 2026.

What is the all-time World Cup goal record? 16 goals, held by Miroslav Klose and now matched by Lionel Messi.

How many more goals does Mbappé need to break the record? Three, to reach 17 and move clear of Klose and Messi.

Could Messi break the record before Mbappé? Yes. Messi is already level on 16 and needs just one more goal, so he could claim the outright record first.