Kylian Mbappe Chases Greatness Among World Cup Legends Ahead of 2026

The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues as the organization highlights one of the tournament’s most significant historical records: the top scorers in knockout stages.

Only three players hold the record for the most goals scored in elimination matches, each netting eight goals: Brazil’s Leonidas, fellow countryman Ronaldo, and France’s Kylian Mbappe.

Leonidas was the first to achieve this feat, scoring Brazil’s only goal in their 1934 World Cup match against Spain. He then shone in the 1938 tournament, netting seven goals in four matches, helping his team secure a third-place finish.

Decades later, Ronaldo matched this historic record by scoring three goals in the knockout stages of the 1998 World Cup and adding four more in 2002, including two decisive goals in the final. He extended his total to eight with an additional goal during the 2006 World Cup.

Kylian Mbappe has joined this elite group with his remarkable performances for France in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. He scored eight goals across eight knockout matches, highlighted by a historic hat-trick in the Qatar final against Argentina, solidifying his status as one of the greatest scorers in World Cup history.