Mbappé's Record Pursuit
Kylian Mbappé Surpasses Pelé in World Cup Goals, Closes in on All-Time Tournament Record
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Kylian Mbappé surpassed Pelé on the all-time World Cup scoring list during the 2026 tournament, putting him just one step away from breaking the all-time record, according to AP News. The French superstar now has 12 career World Cup goals, tying Pelé for sixth place all-time, and sits just four goals behind Miroslav Klose's record of 16.
At 27 years old, Mbappé is playing in what analysts call a "once-in-a-generation" World Cup run. France is also chasing team records, with a shot at becoming the first nation in decades to reach a third straight final, according to AP News.
Mbappé Breaks Pelé's Record for Goals Before Age 24
Mbappé first made history in 2022, when he scored 9 World Cup goals before his 24th birthday. That broke Pelé's record of 7 goals set across the 1958 and 1962 tournaments — a mark that had stood for 60 years. No other player had come close, according to AP News.
Pelé himself praised the achievement before his passing. "Thank you, @KMbappe. I'm happy to see you breaking another one of my records in this Cup, my friend!" the Brazilian legend posted on social media. Mbappé also holds the record for most goals in World Cup Finals, with 4 career final goals — 1 in 2018 and 3 in 2022.
France Chases History as a Multi-Generation Dynasty
Only Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) have ever won back-to-back World Cups. France came closest to a repeat in 2022, losing the final to Argentina in a penalty shootout. Now, entering 2026, they are aiming to reach a third straight final — something no nation has done in the modern era, according to AP News.
Manager Didier Deschamps has called Mbappé "an extraordinary player, a leader of the attack." The team's depth has also grown. Midfielder and forward combinations have given France one of the most feared attacks in the tournament, with Mbappé at its center.
Mbappé's Speed and Style Redefine the Forward Position
FIFA's performance tracking clocked Mbappé at 36.1 km/h during the tournament — one of the fastest speeds ever recorded at a World Cup. Analysts describe his style as "transitional gravity": even without the ball, his speed forces entire defenses to shift their shape. That creates space for teammates and goals for Mbappé.
"The World Cup is an obsession; it's the competition of my dreams," Mbappé said. "I built my season on this competition, physically and mentally." His estimated annual earnings hit $110 million in 2023, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, driven largely by his World Cup performance and move to Real Madrid.
Klose's All-Time Record of 16 Goals Now Within Reach
Miroslav Klose of Germany holds the all-time World Cup scoring record with 16 goals. Mbappé, at 12 goals entering the 2026 tournament, needs just 4 more to tie it. At his current scoring rate — roughly 3 to 4 goals per tournament — he is on pace to break the record before the final whistle in North America, according to AP News.
Statistical projections suggest Mbappé could finish his career with as many as 20 World Cup goals if he competes in 2030. That would shatter Klose's record by a wide margin. For now, France and Mbappé are focused on the present — one match, and one goal, at a time.
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