Kylian Mbappé has continued to build one of the most remarkable statistical profiles in World Cup history. Each time the France superstar steps onto the tournament stage, he seems to move closer to — or directly into — the record books.
With Mbappé already closing in on some of the competition’s most prestigious milestones, the question is becoming harder to ignore: could he ultimately be remembered as the greatest World Cup player of all time? FOX Sports analyst Peter Crouch believes that possibility is increasingly realistic.
Speaking after France’s 2-0 victory over Morocco, Crouch said Mbappé’s World Cup numbers are reaching extraordinary territory. He pointed to the forward’s age, his knockout-stage production, his 20 career World Cup goals and the fact that he is just one behind Lionel Messi. Crouch also noted that Mbappé could be on course to play in a third World Cup final, having already scored a hat trick in a final France ultimately lost.
Mbappé arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a chance to reach the final for the third time in three tournament appearances. This edition also marks his first World Cup as France captain, and he has continued to make history along the way. After scoring in Thursday’s win, Mbappé moved to 20 World Cup goals, the second-highest total ever. He also became the first player to score eight goals in two different World Cups.
As Mbappé’s World Cup résumé keeps expanding, FOX Sports analyst Stu Holden said the French forward is beginning to occupy a rare place in the sport’s history.
Holden highlighted that Mbappé was just 19 when he became the first teenager since Pelé to win the World Cup. He described Mbappé as a player operating on a different level, adding that while Messi remains beloved across the soccer world, Mbappé could have a case as the greatest ever by the time his career is finished.
On the World Cup scoring list, Messi is the only player still ahead of Mbappé. The Argentina legend holds the all-time record with 21 goals, and he also owns several other tournament marks, including the most consecutive World Cup matches with a goal at nine and the all-time assists record with nine.
The comparison, however, comes with important context. Messi has appeared in six World Cups, twice as many as Mbappé’s three. That leaves the 27-year-old France captain with time to continue his pursuit of Messi’s records, if he does not surpass them before the 2026 tournament concludes.
Mbappé & France ADVANCE to Semifinals 🚨 Kylian Mbappé & Ousmane Dembélé Score Goals to Beat Morocco
And Thursday was another day where Mbappé’s tenacity was on full display. Following a scoreless first half, Mbappé scored one of the goals of the tournament in the second half to give his side a 1-0 lead. Ousmane Dembélé followed suit shortly after with his fifth goal this tournament in the 66th minute to send France to the semifinals.
Even if it took Mbappé 60 minutes to score against a competitive Morocco team, FOX Sports’ Kasper Schmeichel knew that he was not going to let up until he found the net.
“It’s an absolutely phenomenal record. He wasn’t going to be denied today,” Schmeichel said of Mbappé’s growing list of World Cup marks. “His goal was exceptional, the skill and the vision. He is absolutely deserving of all the praise he gets, and he is absolutely undeserving of all the criticism he gets.”
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