By Shishir Prashant 
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⚽️ Top scorers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
Kylian Mbappé – 7 GOALS
Lionel Messi – 7 GOALS
Mbappe, Messi Locked in Golden Boot Battle
PrashantNews
Football great Kylian Mbappe once again took the centre stage on Saturday in Philadelphia Stadium as he moved within touching distance of another historic FIFA World Cup milestone.
Mbappe’s second-half penalty earned France a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Philadelphia, sending Les Bleus into the last eight where they will face Morocco, who earlier outclassed co-hosts Canada 3-0 to become the tournament’s first quarter-finalists.
The French captain’s strike not only kept his side’s title hopes alive but also intensified the race for the Golden Boot. Mbappe has now scored seven goals in the tournament, drawing level with Argentina captain Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring charts. However, Mbappe currently holds the edge in the race owing to his superior assist tally.
The goal also took the 27-year-old’s overall World Cup tally to 19, leaving him just one strike away from equalling Messi’s all-time World Cup record of 20 goals and potentially becoming the tournament’s most prolific scorer if France continue their campaign.
Already regarded as one of the greatest World Cup performers of his generation, Mbappe has rewritten several records over the past three editions. He won the Golden Boot in Qatar 2022 with eight goals, became the first player since Ronaldo Nazario in 2002 to score eight goals in a single World Cup, and remains the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst achieved the feat in 1966. He is also the highest scorer in World Cup final history with four goals.
The quarter-final between France and Morocco on July 9 promises to be one of the marquee clashes of the tournament. While Morocco will seek revenge for their heartbreaking semi-final defeat to France in Qatar four years ago, Mbappe will have another opportunity to move past Messi in the Golden Boot race and edge closer to becoming the greatest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.