Mbappé becomes second all-time World Cup top scorer with 18 goals

Mbappé is now the second all-time top scorer in World Cup history

With 18 goals in World Cups, Kylian Mbappé has overtaken legends such as Pelé, Gerd Müller and Miroslav Klose. Only Lionel Messi, with 20, sits above him in the all-time table. The figure calls for context: the current format allows for more matches and lower-level opponents, but that does not diminish the achievement of a player who, at just 25, is already the top active scorer.

The debate is not only about numbers. Critics point out that many of his goals come from penalties, and that his continental record (0 Champions Leagues) fuels the scepticism. On the other side, defenders recall that Mbappé was decisive in the last two World Cups (champion in 2018, runner-up in 2022) and that his scoring average exceeds that of Ronaldo Nazário (15 goals in 19 matches).

The shadow over the quality: easy goals?

Some play down the current records, arguing that weak national teams have multiplied in the expanded World Cups. Messi himself, at 39, has scored 7 goals in the current tournament, and the round-of-16 schedule pits France against Norway and Argentina against Egypt, match-ups that would not have peine decades ago. Even so, overtaking legends like Klose (16 goals) or Pelé (12) in fewer tournaments is a milestone that transcends eras.

The Champions League void weighs on the debate

The big blemish on the French forward's career is the absence of a Champions League title, something Messi, Cristiano and the all-time greats all have. This fuels the argument that World Cup records, however impressive, are not enough to place him among the greats without top-level club trophies. Only time will tell whether Mbappé completes his trophy cabinet or whether his legacy falls short.