Kylian Mbappé misses the final, but he is already a World Cup legend

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With France’s run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ending in the semi-finals on Tuesday, Kylian Mbappé will have to wait four more years for another shot at his second World Cup title.

France fell to Spain 2-0 in the semifinals, denying Mbappé a third consecutive appearance in the World Cup final after reaching the championship match in both 2018 and 2022.

When he burst onto the scene in 2018, Mbappé was just 19 years old. He became the youngest French player to score in a World Cup and the second teenager in history to score in a World Cup final, joining Pelé’s iconic feat in 1958.

Now, eight years later, the French superstar has broken all kinds of World Cup records.

Here’s a detailed look at Mbappé’s performance in his first three World Cup appearances, along with the records he’s already set during his notable international career. Note that you can increase these totals when France’s third-place match is still to come, on July 18.

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World Cup career records

Kylian Mbappé has scored 20 goals in 21 World Cup matches in total, the second most of all time behind Lionel Messi (21).
He has 12 goals in the World Cup knockout stage, the most of any player of all time.
He is the first player to score eight goals in two different World Cups.
Mbappé has scored multiple goals in seven World Cup matches, more than any other player.
He has 11 goals and three assists in his last eight World Cup games.
His 17 goals without penalties tie the most in World Cup history with Messi.
Mbappé has participated in 11 goals in the 2026 World Cup (eight goals, three assists); It is the most by a player in a single edition of the World Cup since Gerd Müller in 1970 (10 goals, three assists).
He has recorded 10 goal involvements in each of his last two World Cups; He and Messi are the only recorded players since 1966 to achieve this in two different tournaments.
He is the first player to participate in 100 goals with the French team (64 goals, 36 assists).

Kylian Mbappé has scored 20 goals in 21 World Cup matches in total, the second most of all time behind Lionel Messi (Getty Images).

Mbappé has scored the winning goal in eight World Cup matches, the most of any player in history.
He surpassed Hugo Lloris for the most World Cup appearances in France’s history with 21.
He played 21 World Cup matches under Didier Deschamps, the most by a player with the same coach in the tournament’s history.
They have won 17 of the 21 World Cup matches they have played, losing to Tunisia (2022 group stage), Spain (2026 semi-final) and drawing against Denmark (2018 group stage) and Argentina (2026 final).
Against Morocco, Kylian Mbappé (27 years, 201 days) became the youngest player to reach 20 appearances in a World Cup, breaking the record of Władysław Żmuda (28 years, 34 days).
Mbappé has scored 64 goals for France, more than any player in the team’s history.
His 105 appearances for France are the ninth-most in team history.
He is currently +200 to win the Golden Boot on FanDuel Sportsbook, the second-best odds of any player, behind Lionel Messi (-175).