Kylian Mbappe Surpasses Ronaldo’s World Cup Record with Two Goals Against Sweden
Kylian Mbappe has overtaken Brazilian legend Ronaldo in World Cup history after leading France to a commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden in the last-32 stage. The Real Madrid star scored twice, securing Les Bleus’ spot in the round of 16 with a performance that turned heads worldwide.
Mbappe Breaks Historic Knockout Stage Scoring Record
The defining moment came just before halftime. After a slick one-two with Ousmane Dembele, Mbappe outpaced Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres and fired a shot past goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom. This goal marked Mbappe’s ninth in World Cup knockout matches, surpassing the previous record held jointly by Brazilian greats Leonidas and Ronaldo.
"I'm very aware of who I am, how I play, what I shall do, but it’s not just about me," Mbappe said. "The entire team knows what needs to be done. This is a new competition starting today. We played well, though we were a bit cautious early on. We could have done better at the start."
Hunting Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot
Mbappe wasn’t done. After Bradley Barcola extended France’s lead early in the second half, Mbappe sealed the match with a precise finish in the 74th minute, following a perfect pass from Michael Olise. That strike was his sixth of the tournament, tying him with Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
More impressively, Mbappe now has 18 World Cup goals in total, just one shy of Messi’s all-time record of 19. The chase for the top scorer crown intensifies as the tournament progresses.
A Touching Moment with Didier Deschamps
Right after making history, Mbappe ran over to celebrate with head coach Didier Deschamps. The reunion carried emotional weight, marking Deschamps’ return after missing the final group game against Norway due to his mother’s funeral.
Mbappe expressed his solidarity: "He knows he will never be alone with us, and we will support him." Deschamps responded, "We’re on a mission – so am I with them." The moment highlighted the close bond within the French squad as they enter the tournament’s critical phase.
Next Challenge: Paraguay in the Round of 16
This win over Sweden was France’s most decisive knockout victory since their 1998 final triumph against Brazil. Their next test comes on July 4 in Philadelphia against Paraguay. With Mbappe firing on all cylinders and the team performing smoothly, Les Bleus appear ready to be the side to beat as the competition tightens in North America.
