Kylian Mbappe etched his name deeper into World Cup history during the 2026 tournament, setting multiple records even as France was eliminated in the quarterfinals. According to FIFA statistics, Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup finals with four goals, surpassing the previous record of three held by Geoff Hurst and Zinedine Zidane.
The 27-year-old also set a record for the most goals scored in World Cup knockout matches, with a total of nine across the 2018, 2022, and 2026 tournaments. Additionally, Mbappe became the first player to score in three different World Cup finals, having found the net in 2018, 2022, and 2026.
France's elimination came after a 2-1 loss to Brazil in the quarterfinals on July 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. Despite the early exit, Mbappe's individual achievements were widely praised by football analysts, with many noting his consistency on the biggest stage.
Mbappe now holds the record for most World Cup goals by a French player with 16, surpassing Just Fontaine's 13. He also became the fastest player to reach 15 World Cup goals, achieving the milestone in just 14 matches.
