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

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As France’s 2026 FIFA World Cup ends in the semi-finals on Tuesday, Kylian Mbappé will have to wait another four years for another chance to win his second World Cup title.

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

When he appeared in 2018, Mbappé was only 19 years old. He became the youngest French player to score at 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 performances in his first three World Cup appearances, as well as the records he’s already set during his remarkable international career. Keep in mind that he can increase that total further with France’s third-place match 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 highest all-time behind Lionel Messi (21).
He has 12 goals in the knockout stage at the World Cup, the all-time record.
He is the first player to score eight goals in two separate 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 matches.
His 17 non-penalty goals are tied with Messi in World Cup history.
Mbappé is involved in 11 goals during the 2026 World Cup (eight goals, three assists); This is the record achieved by a player during a single edition of the World Cup since Gerd Müller in 1970 (10 goals, three assists).
He has scored 10 goals in each of his last two World Cups; He and Messi are the only recorded players since 1966 to achieve this goal in two different tournaments.
He is the first player to be involved in 100 goals for the French team (64 goals, 36 assists).

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

Mbappé has scored the winning goal in eight World Cup matches, the most by any player in history.
He surpassed Hugo Lloris for the most World Cup appearances in French history with 21.
He played 21 World Cup matches under Didier Deschamps, the most matches played by a player with the same coach in the history of the tournament.
He has won 17 of the 21 World Cup matches he has played in, 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 World Cup appearances, beating 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 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).