Kylian Mbappé says Messi is best player in World Cup: 'It’s clear'

PHILADELPHIA — Kylian Mbappé is one of the top players in the World Cup and the world, and might be the best for some.

He furthered that statement in France's 3-1 win over Senegal last Tuesday at MetLife Stadium to give Les Bleus three points to begin their revenge World Cup tour when he scored a pair of goals in the second half. With those goals, Mbappé not only helped him become his country’s all‑time leading scorer, but he also climbed to fourth on the tournament’s all‑time scoring list.

Yet with all that and being just shy of owning the World Cup's record himself, the Real Madrid star still deferred during a media availability on Sunday when asked about who the world’s best player is amongst the group of Argentina's Lionel Messi, Portugal's Ronaldo, England's Harry Kane and himself.

"The best of the four players? Lionel Messi," Mbappé said at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, which was followed by a brief chuckle. "It's clear. He’s the best in the world with Cristiano (Ronaldo), it’s clear.

"He’s shown during 15 years that he has an amazing quality. Me, I try to do what I can do, I show my quality on the biggest stage, helping my team to win another World Cup."

Mbappé enters France's Group I game vs. Iraq with 14 career World Cup goals, two shy of Messi's record. Both will be in action on Monday, as Messi and Argentina are set to take on Austria at 1 p.m. ET in Group J play. Mbappé will go head-to-head with Norway's Erling Haaland later in the week when France and Norway meet up for their third and final group stage match in Boston.

As for who the list flushes out after Messi, Mbappé said it's a debate for others to decide and not himself.

"The rest is a debate for the people, a debate for the journalists, a debate for the fans of fútbol, and I think it is good to debate about the players to see who is the best, who performed better," Mbappe said. "But for me, it’s not a question in my head. It’s just about how I can help my team tomorrow against Iraq and how I can bring the trophy home in July."

All-time World Cup top scorers

Here's a look at where the trio stands among the all-time World Cup goal scorers:

• 16 – Miroslav Klose, Germany
• 16 – Lionel Messi, Argentina
• 15 – Ronaldo, Brazil
• 14 – Gerd Muller, West Germany
• 14 – Kylian Mbappé, France
• 13 – Just Fontaine, France
• 12 – Pele, Brazil
• 11 – Sandor Kocsis, Hungary
• 11 – Jurgen Klinsmann, West Germany and Germany
• 10 – Helmut Rahn, West Germany
• 10 – Gary Lineker, England
• 10 – Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina
• 10 – Teofilo Cubillas, Peru
• 10 – Thomas Muller, Germany
• 10 – Grzergor Lato, Poland

Kylian Mbappé World Cup History

A few inches in Qatar separate Mbappé and France from back-to-back championships and a very different narrative around the Real Madrid star's heroic performance in the final. Les Bleus are among the favorites entering the 2026 World Cup and Mbappe will be the key to their hopes in North America, set to pass 100 international appearances at age 27.

Kylian Mbappé international stats

Entering the 2026 World Cup, 27-year-old has scored 56 goals in 96 international matches.

What Pro Club does Kylian Mbappé play for?

Real Madrid.

France 2026 World Cup Schedule

• Game 1: France 3, Senegal 1 (RECAP)
• Game 2: vs. Iraq | Monday, June 22 at 5 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) | Fox (Fubo)
• Game 3: vs. Norway | Friday, June 26 at 3 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.) | Fox (Fubo)

Streaming available on Fubo or the Fox One App. Spanish-language broadcasts are available on Telemundo and Peacock, the latter of which is NBC's subscription streaming service.

World Cup standings

Explore live group standings, stats and the updated bracket with USA TODAY Sports here.

USA TODAY Sports at the World Cup

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