Mbappe on Messi
Cloud TV Desk: France captain Kylian Mbappé has brushed aside comparisons with Lionel Messi after the Argentina superstar continued his impressive scoring run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking after scoring twice in France’s victory over Iraq, Mbappé made it clear that he is not focused on what the Argentine captain is doing on the pitch.
“Leo always scores. He has always done it and he always will,” Mbappé said.
“If I kept watching what Leo was doing, I would have to work even harder. I don’t pay attention to him. My focus is only on helping my team.”
The Real Madrid forward emphasized that his priority remains France’s success rather than individual rivalries or statistical comparisons with Messi.
Mbappé also reached a major personal milestone by making his 100th international appearance for France during the World Cup.
His brace against Iraq took his overall FIFA World Cup tally to 16 goals, drawing level with German legend Miroslav Klose on the all-time World Cup scoring chart.
The French superstar now trails Lionel Messi by just two World Cup goals, adding another fascinating chapter to the careers of two of football’s biggest names.
While football fans continue to compare the two global icons, Mbappé insists his attention remains firmly on France’s campaign as Les Bleus pursue another World Cup title.
With the knockout stage approaching, the race among the tournament’s biggest stars promises to become even more exciting.
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