Kylian Mbappe secured France’s spot in the quarter-finals after scoring his seventh goal of the 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid forward successfully converted a penalty during a contentious match against Paraguay.
Mbappe currently leads Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the top scorer rankings, as he holds the advantage of having provided two assists. Messi, who has not recorded an assist in the tournament, will attempt to increase his tally when Argentina takes on Egypt in the Round of 16. In his last appearance, the Inter Miami star reached a personal milestone by scoring his 20th World Cup goal during a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde.
Harry Kane of England and Erling Haaland of Norway remain the primary challengers to the frontrunners, with both players currently sitting at five goals. England is set to play co-host Mexico in the next round, while Norway faces a difficult test against Brazil.