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France captain Kylian Mbappe moved to within one goal of Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup tally after scoring in a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the Round of 16 on Sunday.
Mbappe converted a second-half penalty in the 70th minute after Paraguay’s Diego Gomez was penalised for tripping him following a video review.
The strike marked his 19th goal in 19 World Cup appearances, just one shy of Messi’s record of 20.
The goal also took Mbappe’s tally to seven in the ongoing tournament, drawing him level with Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the competition’s top scorer.
France coach Didier Deschamps hailed his captain’s influence and leadership after the match.
“He has shown the right attitude from the start and gives everything for the team,” Deschamps said. “He is an outstanding player, and when he speaks, he speaks for the entire group.”
Mbappe also became the first player to score at least three goals in the knockout stages across three different World Cups.
The match itself was fiercely contested, with Paraguay’s players frequently targeting the French forward with physical challenges.
Tensions rose in the first half after Andres Cubas fouled Mbappe, leading to a brief confrontation between players. Later, Matias Galarza caught him with an elbow in another incident.
After the final whistle, Mbappe appeared to ignore a handshake attempt from Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who reacted by throwing the ball toward the France captain.
Reflecting on the encounter, Mbappe said France had anticipated Paraguay’s physical approach and responded with equal intensity.
The victory sends France into the quarter-finals and keeps Mbappe firmly on track in the race for both the Golden Boot and the all-time World Cup scoring record.
Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Harry Kane are next in the Golden Boot standings with five goals each.
In case of a tie, FIFA will decide the award based on assists and, if necessary, fewer minutes played. Mbappe currently leads Messi 2-0 in assists.
