Mbappé eclipses Klose: 17th World Cup goal reshapes the record race

Kylian Mbappé's decisive strike against Sweden gave France a 1‑0 lead and marked his 17th World Cup goal, a milestone reached at 27 years of age. The goal not only secured the win but also propelled the French forward into the tournament's all‑time scoring conversation.

With the tally, Mbappé moved past Germany legend Miroslav Klose, who had held the record before the tournament began. Klose's previous benchmark had stood as the benchmark for World Cup scoring until now.

The current record holder is Lionel Messi, whose tally remains ahead of Mbappé's new total. Messi's 19 World Cup goals set the target that the Frenchman now eyes.

Mbappé could well set his sights on matching Messi's 19 goals in the coming weeks. Each additional strike would bring him closer to the Argentine's record.

In knockout stages, Mbappé has already scored nine times, a record for a World Cup elimination round. That figure surpasses the previous knockout tallies of both Ronaldo and Leônidas.

Mbappé's latest goal therefore not only secured the win but also cemented his place among the tournament's elite scorers. The record‑breaking knockout tally leaves Ronaldo and Leônidas further behind in the historical hierarchy.