Kylian Mbappé ties Klose with 16 World Cup goals as France advances

French forward Kylian Mbappé scored two goals in France's group‑stage win over Iraq at the 2026 World Cup, bringing his tournament tally to 16 and matching Germany's Miroslav Klose on the all‑time list. The haul places Mbappé level with Klose for second place behind Lionel Messi's 18 goals and keeps him on pace to challenge the record as the tournament continues.

In the African qualifiers, striker Ibrahim Mbaye attracted widespread attention for his decisive performances, emerging as a key figure for his national side. His impact has been highlighted by regional media, which describe him as a potential "X‑factor" capable of influencing his team's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.