Mbappé scores 19th World Cup goal, narrows gap with Messi

Kylian Mbappé scored his 19th career World Cup goal on a penalty in the round of 16 match against Paraguay, giving France a 1-0 win. The French captain converted the spot-kick in the 70th minute after a video-review decision awarded the penalty for a tripping foul on Diego Gomez.

France coach Didier Deschamps praised Mbappé, saying, "He’s a great top-notch player on the pitch. But when he speaks, he speaks for the entire group."

The goal was Mbappé's seventh of the tournament, tying him with Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot lead. It also made him the only player to score at least three goals in the knockout stage of three different World Cups.

The match featured physical confrontations, with Paraguay players Andrés Cubas and Matías Galarza involved in incidents with Mbappé. After the game, Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill attempted a post-match handshake, which Mbappé declined, prompting Gill to throw a ball at him.

Mbappé later commented on the match, noting that his team was prepared to play a physical style if needed. The victory keeps him within one goal of Messi’s career World Cup tally, as Messi recently reached 20 goals for Argentina.

Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Harry Kane each have five goals, trailing Mbappé and Messi in the Golden Boot race. FIFA will use assists and minutes played as tiebreakers if the top scorer spots remain tied at the tournament’s end.