Kylian Mbappé: French Toast

TWO SCORCHING GOALS against Sweden, six in this FIFA World Cup and counting— Kylian Mbappé has once again become the irresist­ible force around which the quadrennial seems to orbit. The French striker now shares the lead for the Golden Boot with Lionel Messi, but another race with the Argentine appears just as inevitable. It took six World Cups for Messi to eclipse Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 goals and move to 19. Mbappé, meanwhile, is just one behind at 18 despite playing only his third tournament. Surpassing Messi’s World Cup mark now feels less a question of if than when.

It is not merely the goals, but the inevitability with which they arrive. France perhaps possesses the strongest collection of talent in this World Cup, a squad capable of overwhelming opponents from almost every position, yet it is Mbappé who remains their face, just as he has been since his breakthrough triumph of 2018. Even in defeat in the unforgettable 2022 final, he produced one of the all-time great World Cup performances, dragging France back with a hat-trick for the ages.

The months leadingin to this World Cup had been unusually turbulent at Real Madrid, where the burden of expectation briefly threatened to weigh even Mbappé down. Those doubts now feel a galaxy away as Mbappé has rediscovered the terrifying blend of pace, movement and ruthless finishing that has defined his career. At just 27, with records tumbling and opponents once again looking as though they are chas­ing a storm, the world still appears to be Mbappé’s oyster.