A wave of social media posts this week incorrectly claimed that Kylian Mbappé has matched Lionel Messi's all-time World Cup goal record. The official tally shows the French forward is still one goal behind the Argentine legend.
How the false claim spread
Users on platforms including X and TikTok shared graphics and statements asserting that Mbappé had equaled Messi's mark of 13 World Cup goals. The posts often cited Mbappé's two goals in the 2022 final against Argentina as the moment he tied the record. But the numbers don't add up. Messi scored 13 goals across five World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022). Mbappé has 12 goals from two tournaments (2018 and 2022). The discrepancy appears to stem from some fans counting Mbappé's penalty shootout goals, which are not included in official FIFA statistics for individual goal tallies.
What the record book actually says
FIFA's official records list Messi with 13 World Cup goals, placing him fourth on the all-time list behind Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo Nazário (15), and Gerd Müller (14). Mbappé sits fifth with 12. The 25-year-old still has time to climb the rankings — he is expected to play in at least one more World Cup — but for now the record remains out of reach.
A betting line on the future
Despite the current gap, oddsmakers are already looking ahead. A betting market on the prediction platform Polymarket lists a line titled 'Mbappé to score 10+ goals at 52% YES.' That wager refers to his total in the 2026 World Cup, not his career tally. The 52% probability implies bettors see a slight edge in him reaching double digits in a single tournament, something only a handful of players have ever done.
The next World Cup is scheduled for 2026, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Whether Mbappé will surpass Messi's career total by then — or ever — is a question that will only be answered on the pitch.
