Kylian Mbappe says he is not focused on race with Lionel Messi to win 2026 World Cup Golden Boot - 'Leo is going to score more goals'

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Kylian Mbappe scored two more goals as France beat Sweden to reach the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup. Mbappe then insisted he is not focused on the race with Lionel Messi to win the Golden Boot in North America.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 30: Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 3-0 during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between France and Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 30, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Image credit: Getty Images

Mbappe and France were once again imperious as they saw off Sweden 3-0 in New Jersey on Tuesday, setting up a meeting with Paraguay this weekend.

Real Madrid superstar Mbappe moved to five goals for the tournament, one behind his former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Messi.

Asked whether he was focused on the Golden Boot, Mbappe said: "No. No, no, no. I think the aim is to go as far as possible (at the World Cup). To make it to 19th July, to come back here and try to win it.

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"We are taking it step by step. Of course, the more goals you score, the higher you climb towards glory. I do not think that I am telling anybody anything new. But, on top of that, I am convinced that Leo is going to score more goals. So, I do not pay too much attention to that.

"I focus more on the opponents we might face, and how close we are getting to our target, which is the final. I do not think about that (chasing scoring records). Of course, I am aware of the statistics.

"Everybody is talking about them, and I watch the television too. However, I am only thinking about how I can help my team get to the final on July 19th."

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France won their first World Cup in 1998 and added a second in Russia twenty years later, in 2018. They have also lost two finals on penalties, including to Argentina in Qatar in 2022.

They look every inch the favourites to win a coveted third World Cup this summer, and Mbappe is fully aware of the significance of the prize at stake.

"It is a big moment, I know how important a World Cup is for a country," Mbappe said.

"I have always said that my aim is to make history for my country. I have done it once before, I came close to doing it in Qatar and now I have another opportunity.

"I am going to give it my all, to make all of the French people proud of our team and of our squad, and so that we can go down in our country's history."

Messi will aim to add to his goal tally when Argentina face Cape Verde in their last 32 tie on Friday.

Mbappe will next be in action on Saturday when France meet Paraguay in Philadelphia, with the winners of that tie taking on Canada or Morocco in the quarter-finals next week.

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