Messi and Mbappe reignite World Cup scoring rivalry

Four years after their unforgettable showdown in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are once again rewriting the record books. The two superstars, who faced off in Lusail on 18 December 2022, have resumed their goal-scoring rivalry at the 2026 tournament, each climbing the all-time scoring charts.

A historic final that changed everything

On that night in Qatar, Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Messi entered the match with 11 World Cup goals, tied for eighth all-time with Sandor Kocsis and Jurgen Klinsmann. Mbappe was not in the top ten. By the final whistle, Messi had scored a brace and Mbappe a hat-trick, the first in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966. The match elevated both players in the tournament's history, but it was only the beginning.

“Mbappe already has the peace of mind that comes from having won it,” Messi said after the final. “As for me, I experienced things differently. Even though what he did in the final was incredible, and not winning the World Cup must have been hard to take, I’ve been there too. Reaching the final in 2014 and not winning it was torture.”

Messi breaks Klose's record

At the 2026 World Cup, Messi has made a blistering start. He scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria and a brace in a 2-0 victory against Austria. On 22 June, his 18th World Cup goal moved him past Miroslav Klose's long-standing record of 16 goals, making him the competition's all-time leading scorer.

When asked about the record and his favorite World Cup goal, Messi deflected praise to his team: “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t really even remember them. I’m tired, I don’t have much energy left and I’m finding it hard to think straight. I’m just going to enjoy this moment and celebrate it with my team-mates. I’m making the most of the moment and I want to see how far we can go together. Today, there was that [missed] penalty, but perhaps I wouldn’t have scored the other goals if it had gone in.”

Mbappe matches Klose's tally

While Messi has surged ahead, Mbappe is not far behind. The French captain scored consecutive braces in France's 3-1 win over Senegal and 3-0 victory over Iraq, bringing his World Cup total to 16 goals. Remarkably, Mbappe has achieved this in just two tournaments, compared to Klose's four.

“I already knew Leo was going to score goals – he’s Leo Messi, he always scores,” Mbappe said of his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate. “He’s the one who holds the record; I’m behind him. I’m going to keep trying to score to help my team get as far as possible. Of course, by scoring goals, you get closer to that sort of record. But the most important thing for me is to take my team as far as possible.”

Mutual respect fuels the rivalry

The admiration between the two players is clear. Mbappe has long praised Messi, calling him “the best player in the world alongside Cristiano [Ronaldo]” on the eve of France's match against Iraq. “Over 15 years, he has demonstrated his incredible qualities,” Mbappe added. Their rivalry, once played out as teammates in Paris and now as opponents on the global stage, continues to captivate football fans worldwide.