France superstar Kylian Mbappé has refused to back down from the race to become the FIFA World Cup’s all-time top scorer. Commenting on Lionel Messi’s recent performances, Mbappé noted that while he expected his former teammate to keep scoring, it would not deter him from chasing football’s ultimate international milestone.
Following a spectacular hat-trick in Argentina’s victory over Algeria, Messi matched Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s joint-highest goalscorer with 16 goals. Meanwhile, Mbappé sits closely behind in third place with 13 goals, following his brilliant brace against Senegal.
Mbappé’s Comments Ahead of Iraq Match
Speaking ahead of France’s group stage match against Iraq, the French captain addressed the goalscoring rivalry:
“I knew Leo Messi would score goals. He is Messi, and he is used to scoring all the time.”
“As for me, I will keep scoring to help my teammates as much as possible, and naturally, by doing that, I will get closer to the record.”
Versatility and Physical Form
Reflecting on his role under the current system and his peak physical condition, Mbappé added:
“I feel in great physical shape. This is my third World Cup; I’ve played on the right wing, on the left wing, and now as a central striker. In the end, it’s all about smart movement on the pitch.”
When asked to rank the world’s best forwards between himself, Messi, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane, the French talisman answered without hesitation:
“Definitely Messi. He is the best, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.”
