Some observers believe that Kylian Mbappé may have taken Lionel Messi’s earlier display for Argentina as a personal challenge.

Just hours after Messi delivered a masterclass, Mbappé responded in style. Less than 15 minutes into France’s Group I clash against Iraq, the French forward produced a moment of brilliance reminiscent of the Argentine legend’s performance.

Mbappé collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area before curling a stunning shot into the net, marking his 15th FIFA World Cup goal for Les Bleus. With that strike, he became the fastest player in tournament history to reach 15 goals, achieving the milestone in only 16 matches.

By doing so, he surpassed Germany’s Gerd Müller and drew level with Brazilian icon Ronaldo in the all-time World Cup scoring chart, both now sitting on 15 goals.

Only Miroslav Klose (16) and Lionel Messi (18) have netted more goals in World Cup history, placing Mbappé within touching distance of the all-time greats.

The French captain’s consistency on the biggest stage continues to impress — he has now registered 17 goal contributions across his last 16 World Cup appearances, a remarkable record that underlines his influence in major tournaments.

At just 27 years old, Mbappé’s World Cup journey appears far from over, leaving fans to wonder how many more goals he will add to his already extraordinary tally in the years to come.