Kylian Mbappe sets new World Cup knockout scoring record

Kylian Mbappé set a new World Cup knockout scoring record by netting France’s 1-0 winner over Paraguay in the round of 16 in Philadelphia. The France captain scored his record-extending 11th goal in the knockout stage after converting a second-half penalty on Saturday. At 27 years old, Mbappé became the first player to score in the round of 16 at three consecutive World Cups. The decisive strike came in the 69th minute following a VAR review that awarded a penalty after Desire Doue won it. Mbappé sent Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill the wrong way, and France booked a quarterfinal against Morocco. His tally also marked his seventh goal of the 2026 tournament, tying Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race while giving him the edge in assists. The win left Mbappé one goal shy of Messi’s all-time World Cup total of 20.