Kylian Mbappe etched his name deeper into World Cup history by overtaking Brazilian great Ronaldo after inspiring France to a commanding 3-0 win against Sweden in the round of 32. The Real Madrid forward struck twice as Les Bleus comfortably sealed their spot in the next round with a dominant display.
Mbappe overtakes Brazilian icons
The milestone moment came in the 45th minute. Following a quick exchange with Ousmane Dembele, Mbappe skilfully manoeuvred past Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres before firing a precise shot beyond goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom. That goal marked his ninth in the World Cup knockout stages, breaking the record previously held jointly by Brazilian legends Leonidas and Ronaldo.
Reflecting on his achievement, Mbappe said, “I’m very aware of who I am, how I play, and what I should do, but it’s not just about me. The entire team knows what needs to be done. It’s like a new competition began today. We played well, though we were a bit cautious. We could have started better.”
Mbappe matches Lionel Messi in Golden Boot chase
The French captain wasn’t done yet. After Bradley Barcola extended France’s lead early in the second half, Mbappe struck again in the 74th minute. Running onto a perfectly timed pass from Michael Olise, he curled a clinical finish into the far corner to seal the victory.
That goal was his sixth of the 2026 World Cup, putting him level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Even more impressively, Mbappe now has 18 career World Cup goals, just one shy of Messi’s all-time tally of 19.
Touching tribute to Didier Deschamps
After making history, Mbappe sprinted towards the touchline to embrace head coach Didier Deschamps in a heartfelt celebration. The moment carried special significance as Deschamps had just returned to the sidelines after missing the final group stage game against Norway to attend his mother’s funeral.
The gesture highlighted the strong bond within the French squad as they enter the knockout phase. Expressing his support for the coach, Mbappe said, “He knows that he will never be alone with us, and we will always stand by him.” Deschamps responded emotionally, saying, “We’re on a mission – and I’m right there with them.”
France set for Paraguay showdown
The emphatic result over Sweden was France’s largest knockout-stage win since the 1998 final triumph over Brazil. They now prepare to face Paraguay in the round of 16 in Philadelphia on July 4. With Mbappe in sensational form and the team firing collectively, Les Bleus appear poised as one of the strongest contenders as the tournament intensifies in North America.
