France captain Kylian Mbappé has scored his 19th career World Cup goal during Les Bleus' 1-0 Round of 16 victory over Paraguay, bringing him one goal behind Lionel Messi's all-time record.The Real Madrid forward calmly converted a 70th-minute penalty after VAR confirmed Paraguay’s Diego Gómez fouled Renato Veiga.This goal marks Mbappé's seventh in the 2026 tournament, matching Messi's tally for the Golden Boot.At 27, he now holds the record for most goals in three different World Cup knockout stages.

France coach Didier Deschamps praised Mbappé's leadership and dedication, calling him a 'great top-class player' who represents the entire team.The win secures France's place in the quarter-finals, with Mbappé locked in a historic race against Messi for World Cup immortality.While Messi plays his potential final tournament, Mbappé aims to surpass or equal the Argentine legend's record before the 2026 competition ends.