France captain Kylian Mbappe drew level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot after converting the decisive penalty in his side’s 1-0 last-16 victory over Paraguay.
Mbappe’s 70th-minute spot kick took his tally to seven goals in five matches, matching Messi’s tournament-leading total. The Argentine captain, however, has reached the same mark in four games, scoring most recently in Argentina’s 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde in the round of 32.
The France forward also moved to 19 career World Cup goals, leaving him one behind Messi’s tally of 20.
England’s Harry Kane and Norway’s Erling Haaland are next in the Golden Boot standings with five goals each, while France’s Ousmane Dembele, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior have all scored four.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, has endured a comparatively quiet tournament by his standards, scoring three goals in four appearances.
Mbappe’s latest strike came from the penalty spot after Paraguay midfielder Diego Gomez was adjudged to have fouled Desire Doue following a video review.
“I’ve said from the first day that he had the spirit. He gave all the athletic efforts,” France coach Didier Deschamps said after the victory. “He’s a great top-notch player on the pitch. But when he speaks, he speaks for the entire group.”
The 27-year-old, who won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup despite France’s final defeat by Argentina, also became the first player to score at least three knockout-stage goals in three separate World Cups.
France were forced into a physical contest against Paraguay, with tempers flaring in the opening half after challenges from Andres Cubas and Matias Galarza on Mbappe.
“We knew what kind of match it was going to be,” Mbappe said. “We can also get our hands dirty, we know how to do it. We know how to play ugly football. They thought we were going to show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even in that kind of game, we were better than them.”
The encounter ended on a tense note as Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill threw the ball at Mbappe’s back after the French striker declined a post-match handshake.
Mbappe’s pursuit of another Golden Boot now runs alongside his chase of Messi’s World Cup scoring record. Messi reached 20 World Cup goals with his strike against Cape Verde and has now scored in a record eight consecutive World Cup matches.
Should players finish level on goals at the end of the tournament, FIFA will determine the Golden Boot winner first by assists and then by the fewest minutes played. Mbappe currently holds a 2-0 advantage over Messi in assists, giving him the edge if the pair remain tied on goals.
