Mbappé scores twice to tie Messi for World Cup lead with 6 goals, France beats Sweden 3-0
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France's Kylian Mbappé (10) celebrates scoring their side's first goal during the World Cup round of 32 football match between France and Sweden in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
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France's Kylian Mbappé (10) scores his team's third goal against Sweden's Jacob Widell Zetterström (1) during a World Cup round of 32 football match between France and Sweden in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Kylian Mbappé put France ahead with a brilliant crossover step in the 45th minute and then added a second-half goal to break a World Cup knockout round scoring record, and Les Bleus beat Sweden 3-0 Tuesday to set up a round of 16 match against Paraguay.
Bradley Barcola added a 53rd-minute goal for France and Mbappé capped the scoring in the 74th minute for his third two-goal game in four matches.
His six goals tied Argentina forward Lionel Messi for the tournament lead and gave him 18 in his World Cup career, one shy of Messi’s record.
“I’m very aware of who I am, how I play, what I shall do, but it’s not just about me,” Mbappé said through a translator.”
“The entire team is aware of what should be done. It is a new competition that has started today. We did play well, but we were timid. We could have done better at the beginning.”
Mbappé’s 10 knockout-round goals are two more than the previous high by Brazilian greats Leonidas and Ronaldo.
France coach Didier Deschamps bowed when his star came to the bench after he was substituted in the 85th minute.
“We’re on a mission. — so am I with them,” Deschamps said through a translator.
France, the World Cup runner-up four years ago and a tournament favorite this time, has outscored opponents 13-2, with Michael Olise assisting on five goals.
“They are skilled at knowing when to change the pace and increase it, when to possess the ball, when to fall back,” Sweden captain Victor Lindelöf said through a translator.
Seeking to reach its third straight World Cup final, France plays Paraguay on July 4 in Philadelphia, and the winner advances to a quarterfinal against Canada or Morocco five days later at Foxborough, Massachusetts.
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