Kylian Mbappé has already written his name into France World Cup history this year by becoming his country’s all-time leading scorer, and tonight he has the chance to add another milestone as the France captain prepares to earn his 100th international cap against Iraq.
Key takeaways
- Mbappé has surpassed all previous French scoring records at this World Cup and now leads the way for his national team.
- France face Iraq in Group I, with Mbappé set to play his 100th match for his country.
- The forward will be the 10th player from France to reach the 100-cap mark, though he still trails Hugo Lloris’s 145 appearances.
- He became France’s leading scorer on Monday, netting twice in a 3-1 victory over Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
- Mbappé’s World Cup tally stands at 14 goals from 15 appearances, leaving him two strikes shy of the tournament’s overall mark.
From Senegal to a century of caps
Speaking to reporters on Sunday in Philadelphia—where the Group I contest with Iraq will take place—Mbappé said it is always special to wear the France shirt. He described reaching 100 caps as a historic milestone and added that having the opportunity to do it at a World Cup makes the night particularly meaningful.
He will become only the 10th French player to reach a century of international appearances, yet he remains some distance from the benchmark set by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who finished his France career with 145 caps.
Mbappé stressed that the focus is not the personal landmark alone. “The importance and the stakes of the match are what really matter and we need a win to go through,” he said, underlining that a victory would help France maintain their path in the tournament.
His France journey began when he made his debut at 18 in 2017. On Monday, he moved into first place as his country’s top scorer when he produced a brace in the 3-1 win over Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
That performance saw him overtake Olivier Giroud’s previous record of 57 goals, as Mbappé now sits on 58.
Why the World Cup has defined his rise
Mbappé believes it is fitting that these career milestones have arrived at the World Cup, a competition he says has shaped his path since he first broke through on the global stage with France’s triumph in Russia in 2018.
At that tournament, he scored four times, and at Qatar four years ago he added eight more goals, including a remarkable hat-trick in the final. France went on to lose that decisive match on penalties to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Now 27 and with a Real Madrid contract, Mbappé said he is conscious of what it means to represent France—highlighting that he represents a nation of more than 67 million people. He added that while some players may not fully savour the occasion due to the stakes, he tries to enjoy it and feels fortunate to be in the position he is.
He also suggested that simply producing a strong start is not enough to showcase his full ability. “I know I have the quality but you still need to go out and show it on the biggest stage at a World Cup and I don’t think a double in the first game is enough to show the full extent of my talent,” he said.
That message carried a clear edge toward Iraq, with Mbappé effectively warning that the tournament favourites are aiming to make another statement. A further France win would push the side closer to the knockout stage.
Chasing World Cup records and looking beyond the tournament
Mbappé arrives with 14 World Cup goals from 15 appearances, and he is two strikes away from matching the overall tournament scoring record. That mark belongs to Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who finished with 16 goals, and it has been equalled by Messi this year after the Argentina captain scored a hat-trick against Algeria on Tuesday.
When asked about the chase, Mbappé said he expects Messi to keep finding the net. “I knew Leo Messi would score goals, he always does. He has the record, I am just behind and I will keep trying to score goals,” he said.
Mbappé added that closing the gap matters, but the bigger priority is collective success. “That will bring me closer to the record, but the most important thing is going as far as possible with my team.”
He also indicated he enjoys being one of the headline names at a World Cup staged in the United States. Mbappé suggested that later in his career he could consider a move to Major League Soccer, citing cultural differences and the ambition he sees in the league.
“Of course, the culture is different to ours in Europe, and I have always liked that, the fact that people have ambitions with no limits, and are not afraid to say it,” he said.
He was asked whether he would return to the country at the end of his career, and he responded that he does not know. He said David Beckham often asks him about the possibility, but added that it is a place he likes and that he is happy to be there.
Even so, Mbappé hinted he may not be featuring at World Cups for decades, contrasting his own longevity with Cristiano Ronaldo’s continued presence at this edition. “I won’t be doing this at 40, you will have got rid of me by then,” he joked.
