Kylian Mbappé Moves Within Two Goals Of FIFA World Cup History After Senegal Brace
France's superstar scored twice against Senegal to climb level with Gerd Müller on 14 World Cup goals, leaving Miroslav Klose's all-time record firmly in his sights.
For most footballers, scoring at a World Cup is the dream.
For Kylian Mbappé, it is becoming a habit.
The France captain scored twice as Les Bleus opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with victory over Senegal, moving to 14 goals in World Cup competition and edging closer to one of football’s most iconic records.
Only Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 World Cup goals, and Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário, who scored 15, remain ahead of him on the all-time list.
What makes Mbappé’s achievement remarkable is how quickly he has accumulated those numbers.
The Real Madrid forward is appearing in just his third World Cup.
Yet he is already level with German great Gerd Müller on 14 goals and has every chance of becoming the tournament’s greatest goalscorer before the 2026 competition is over.
A World Cup Career Like No Other
Mbappé announced himself to the football world at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
At just 19 years old, he scored four goals and helped France lift the trophy, becoming the first teenager since Pelé to score in a World Cup final.
Four years later in Qatar, he was even more devastating.
Mbappé won the Golden Boot with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final against Argentina, becoming only the second player in history to score three goals in a World Cup final.
Despite his heroics, France lost the final on penalties.
Now, in 2026, he has picked up exactly where he left off.
The Top 10 Goalscorers In FIFA World Cup History
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 24 |
| 2 | Ronaldo Nazário | Brazil | 15 | 19 |
| =3 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 14 | 15 |
| =3 | Gerd Müller | West Germany | 14 | 13 |
| =5 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 13 | 26 |
| =5 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 | 6 |
| =7 | Pelé | Brazil | 12 | 14 |
| =7 | Jürgen Klinsmann | Germany | 11 | 17 |
| =9 | Sándor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 | 5 |
| =9 | Thomas Müller | Germany | 10 | 20 |
Statistics include the 2026 World Cup group-stage opener against Senegal.
History Is Calling
Mbappé’s World Cup numbers are almost difficult to believe.
- 2018 World Cup winner at age 19
- Four goals in Russia
- Golden Boot winner in 2022
- Hat-trick in a World Cup final
- Four goals in World Cup finals
- 14 World Cup goals from only 15 matches
- Just two goals behind Miroslav Klose’s all-time record
With France among the favourites to win the tournament, there could still be as many as six matches remaining for Mbappé to rewrite football history.
And if his performance against Senegal is any indication, the record may not survive much longer.
