France captain Kylian Mbappé has stated that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remain the two best footballers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, downplaying comparisons with himself and emphasizing that his priority is France’s success.
Speaking at a press conference, the Real Madrid forward was asked about the rivalry among football’s biggest stars and the possibility of breaking the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring record.
“Messi is the best player, together with Cristiano, that’s obvious. I’m only trying to help my team win another World Cup. Everything else is for the journalists to talk about,” Mbappé said.
The French star added that he does not think about individual records or rivalries with other forwards, as his focus remains on the next match and the national team’s objectives.
“I knew Leo would score because he always scores. If you score goals, you get closer to records, but for me the most important thing is that we win the World Cup,” he said.
Mbappé also spoke about the tactical evolution of modern football, praising the influence that successful teams have on the way the game is played.
“The teams that win always become examples for everyone else. At one point, everyone wanted to copy Barcelona, then Real Madrid, and now PSG. But international football is completely different,” he explained.
France are now preparing for their next match against Iraq after opening their World Cup campaign with a 3–1 victory over Senegal. Mbappé was the standout performer in that match, scoring twice, and is expected to lead Les Bleus once again as they aim to secure qualification for the knockout stage.
