‘I don’t look at what he does’

Kylian Mbappe says a race for the golden boot with Lionel Messi would entail “much more” stress on the World Cup 2026 after each strikers continued their prolific begins to the event on matchday two.

Hours after Messi reached 5 targets by hanging twice against Austria – a match during which the Argentina captain and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner additionally despatched an early penalty large – Mbappe scored his second double in two video games as France beat Iraq 3-0.

“Leo at all times scores,” mentioned Mbappe, answering a query about his appreciation of a compelling-looking contest to complete as high scorer.

“He has at all times scored, he’s scoring, and he’ll at all times rating. If I need to have a look at what Leo does, I’m going to must do much more.”

World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe

Messi matched Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s document 16 targets on the World Cup together with his first hat-trick on the event in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Austria on matchday one.

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

“I don’t have a look at what he does in any respect,” Mbappe mentioned of Messi, with whom he performed 67 occasions for Paris Saint-Germain between 2021 and 2023.

“I solely take into consideration serving to my crew. It’s sure that by serving to my crew, I rating targets and, while you rating targets, after all you get nearer to that form of sphere.

“I’ve at all times scored targets on the World Cup, so it’s not one thing I feel I ought to fear about.

“The precedence for us is to make sure of our strengths as a crew, as a result of we all know that the additional we progress, the extra we shall be put to the take a look at.

“To win a World Cup, it’s important to beat everybody, so it’s going to be very difficult.

“We now have a protracted path forward that shall be difficult, and we’ll attempt to do all the things to return out victorious.”

Messi has additionally downplayed his place amongst World Cup greats. “Though it’s a supply of delight to have the ability to compete with all of them, it doesn’t imply something to me,” he mentioned after matchday one.

“In the long run, it’s statistics and nothing else.”

Listed below are the 9 gamers to have scored greater than 10 targets on the World Cup. Among the many gamers concerned in 2026, England’s Harry Kane is on 10 and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil’s Neymar are every on eight.

France vs Iraq: World Cup delay ‘drawback’

Mbappe was requested about indicators he appeared to make in direction of the officers when the win over Iraq was disrupted in Philadelphia, the place the second half began greater than two hours after the primary completed due to lightning strikes within the space.

“It wasn’t annoyance, however it was as a result of the a part of the pitch the place we have been attacking was waterlogged,” defined Mbappe.

“They spent 20 minutes clearing the aspect the place we defend, however they didn’t spend any time clearing the aspect the place we assault. So that may be a drawback.

“I wished them to spend the identical period of time clearing either side of the pitch – or, if that they had to decide on, clear the aspect the place we assault and let it decelerate on the opposite aspect. So it’s extra about that.

“It’s simply within the warmth of the second. [It’s] the actual fact of ready for 2 hours, after which while you [re-emerge] you see that they didn’t shield the pitch – usually they’re presupposed to cowl it.

“[That] creates slightly little bit of irritation, however it passes.”

World Cup 2026: Ousmane Dembele ‘distinctive’

Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele arrange Mbappe’s second objective and scored France’s third, opening his account at a serious event after 13 appearances on the World Cup and 7 on the EURO with out scoring.

“The entire crew wished him to attain,” mentioned Mbappe. “We wished to feed him as a result of he’s a vital participant.

“We all know that when he performs like he performed right now, it’s fully helpful for us, and the crew shall be even higher.

“It’s clear that there’s a want for Ousmane to really feel good and really feel comfy regardless of the place he performs, as long as he can play his soccer.

“When he performs his soccer, he’s a singular and particular participant. He had the possibility to be decisive right now, however I feel even when he hadn’t been decisive, you possibly can really feel it in his touches, his willingness to take initiative, and all the things he undertook that he felt good.

“It’s excellent for us and we’re very completely happy.”

Mbappe World Cup fixtures: Confirmed schedule, kick off occasions

Right here how France’s schedule and potential knockout stage paths look, in addition to learn how to watch within the UK.