Mbappe explains Messi risk: ‘I don’t look at what he does’

Kylian Mbappe says a race for the golden boot with Lionel Messi would entail “even more” pressure at the World Cup 2026 after both strikers continued their prolific starts to the tournament on matchday two.

Hours after Messi reached five goals by striking twice against Austria – a match in which the Argentina captain and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also sent an early penalty wide – Mbappe scored his second double in two games as France beat Iraq 3-0.

“Leo always scores,” said Mbappe, answering a question about his appreciation of a compelling-looking contest to finish as top scorer.

“He has always scored, he is scoring, and he will always score. If I want to look at what Leo does, I’m going to have to do even more.”

World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe

Messi matched Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s record 16 goals at the World Cup with his first hat-trick at the tournament in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Austria on matchday one.

Mbappe had been level with West Germany’s Gerd Muller on 14 and has now surpassed Brazil icon Ronaldo’s tally of 15, putting the Bleus captain level with Klose.

“I don’t look at what he does at all,” Mbappe said of Messi, with whom he played 67 times for Paris Saint-Germain between 2021 and 2023.

“I only think about helping my team. It’s certain that by helping my team, I score goals and, when you score goals, of course you get closer to that kind of sphere.

“I’ve always scored goals at the World Cup, so it’s not something I think I should worry about.

“The priority for us is to be sure of our strengths as a team, because we know that the further we progress, the more we will be put to the test.

“To win a World Cup, you have to beat everyone, so it’s going to be very complicated.

“We have a long path ahead that will be complicated, and we will try to do everything to come out victorious.”

Messi has also downplayed his place among World Cup greats. “Although it is a source of pride to be able to compete with them all, it doesn’t mean anything to me,” he said after matchday one.

“In the end, it is statistics and nothing else.”

Here are the nine players to have scored more than 10 goals at the World Cup. Among the players involved in 2026, England’s Harry Kane is on 10 and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil’s Neymar are each on eight.

France vs Iraq: World Cup delay ‘disadvantage’

Mbappe was asked about signals he appeared to make towards the officials when the win over Iraq was disrupted in Philadelphia, where the second half started more than two hours after the first finished because of lightning strikes in the area.

“It wasn’t annoyance, but it was because the part of the pitch where we were attacking was waterlogged,” explained Mbappe.

“They spent 20 minutes clearing the side where we defend, but they didn’t spend any time clearing the side where we attack. So that is a disadvantage.

“I wanted them to spend the same amount of time clearing both sides of the pitch – or, if they had to choose, clear the side where we attack and let it slow down on the other side. So it’s more about that.

“It’s just in the heat of the moment. [It’s] the fact of waiting for two hours, and then when you [re-emerge] you see that they didn’t protect the pitch – normally they are supposed to cover it.

“[That] creates a little bit of irritation, but it passes.”

World Cup 2026: Ousmane Dembele ‘unique’

Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele set up Mbappe’s second goal and scored France’s third, opening his account at a major tournament after 13 appearances at the World Cup and seven at the EURO without scoring.

“The whole team wanted him to score,” said Mbappe. “We wanted to feed him because he is an essential player.

“We know that when he plays like he played today, it’s entirely beneficial for us, and the team will be even better.

“It’s clear that there is a desire for Ousmane to feel good and feel comfortable no matter where he plays, so long as he can play his football.

“When he plays his football, he is a unique and special player. He had the chance to be decisive today, but I think even if he hadn’t been decisive, you could feel it in his touches, his willingness to take initiative, and everything he undertook that he felt good.

“It’s very good for us and we are very happy.”

Mbappe World Cup fixtures: Confirmed schedule, kick off times

Here how France’s schedule and potential knockout stage paths look, as well as how to watch in the UK.