EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JUNE 30: Kylian Mbappe #10 of France celebrates after scoring during the second half of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 game against Sweden on June 30, 2026 at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Kylian Mbappe has etched his name further into World Cup history, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in knockout stage matches with his ninth goal in these rounds.The French superstar’s brace against Sweden in the round of 32 took him past the previous record of eight goals held jointly by Brazil legends Leonidas (1938) and Ronaldo (1998, 2002).What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that Mbappe has scored nine in exactly nine knockout appearances, a testament to his ability to deliver on the biggest stage.Mbappe’s record-breaking goal came in France’s 3-0 victory over Sweden in the round of 32, as Les Bleus continued their impressive World Cup campaign. The 27-year-old now has six goals in the tournament, putting him first in the race for the Golden Boot alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi.The former Paris Saint-Germain star has made a habit of stepping up when it matters most. In the 2022 World Cup final, he scored a hat-trick against Argentina, becoming only the second player to achieve that feat. He was also the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals.Mbappe now has 18 World Cup goals in total, just one shy of the all-time record of 19 currently held by Lionel Messi. With France advancing to the round of 16, he will have more opportunities to add to his tally and chase down the legend ahead of him.The moment proved decisive once again on the biggest stage, as Mbappe continues to deliver in the moments that matter most.



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