RismadarVoice Reporters, June 23, 2026
France captain, Kylian Mbappé continued his remarkable World Cup journey on Monday, scoring twice in a convincing 3-0 victory over Iraq to propel Les Bleus into the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The two-goal performance saw Mbappé increase his World Cup tally to 16 goals, drawing level with German legend Miroslav Klose for the second-highest number of goals in tournament history.
Only Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who recently set a new record with 18 World Cup goals, now stands ahead of the French star.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the 14th minute of the Group I encounter, finding the net in what marked his 100th appearance for the French national team. After a lengthy weather-related interruption extended the halftime break, the Real Madrid forward struck again early in the second half to strengthen France’s control of the match.
His second goal came after Iraq’s defence surrendered possession near their own penalty area. Ousmane Dembélé quickly capitalised on the error before setting up Mbappé for a simple finish.
France dominated proceedings throughout the contest, with Dembélé later adding a third goal to seal a comfortable victory and confirm the former world champions’ place in the next round.
The latest milestone further highlights Mbappé’s extraordinary World Cup record. At just 27 years old, he has already accumulated 16 goals across three tournaments and remains well positioned to challenge Messi’s all-time mark in future editions of the competition.
Speaking after the match, Mbappé acknowledged the challenge of matching the achievements of the Argentine superstar, noting that maintaining such a pace would require sustained excellence over the coming years.
France manager Didier Deschamps praised his captain’s influence both on and off the field, describing him as a leader whose performances continue to inspire the squad.
Mbappé nearly completed a hat-trick late in the game but was unable to convert a clear opportunity before being substituted near full-time.
France entered the tournament among the favourites for the title and have so far justified that status. The victory follows their opening win over Senegal and extends their impressive start to the competition.
Having lifted the World Cup trophy in 2018 and finished runners-up in 2022, Les Bleus are once again targeting global glory, with Mbappé spearheading their charge.
The forward now has 59 international goals for France, further cementing his place among the greatest players in the country’s football history as he continues his pursuit of both team success and individual records on the world stage.
