France's Kylian Mbappe runs during a training session ahead of the team's World Cup Group I soccer match against Iraq in Philadelphia, Sunday (June 21, 2026).
| Photo Credit: AP Kylian Mbappé passed Pelé on the World Cup goal-scoring list and inched closer to setting the overall goal record for the tournament. And, Mbappé also set France’s national team goal-scoring record. Also read | Kylian Mbappe has World Cup history in sights after breaking France scoring record All that in just his first World Cup game of this tournament. Stopping the 2022 Golden Boot trophy winner seems almost impossible. Iraq coach Graham Arnold — tasked with slowing down Mbappé and the 2022 World Cup finalist France on Monday (June 22, 2026) in the second Group I match — had an idea that might have worked. “I asked if we could play three goalkeepers,” Arnold said with a laugh on Sunday (June 21, 2026). “But they said no.” The 27-year-old Mbappé, who stars for Real Madrid, has another milestone to hit against Iraq before his powerful foot takes a single kick. Already playing in his third World Cup and a champion in 2018, Mbappé will play his 100th international game for France.
Published: June 22, 2026 12:40 pm
Source: The Hindu — Read original