MEXICO CITY (Kashmir English): French star footballer Kylian Mbappe has become the second-highest scorer in World Cup history after scoring 2 goals against Sweden in the FIFA World Cup 2026, taking his tally to 18.
With 18 goals, Mbappe has become the second-highest scorer in World Cup history overall, breaking the record of 16 goals scored by former German footballer Miroslav Klose, and now he is only one goal behind Argentina captain Lionel Messi with 18 goals.
Messi’s total number of goals is 19. In addition, Mbappe has scored 6 goals in the current World Cup, equaling Messi and joining the race to win the Golden Boot.
In addition, he has become the top scorer in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup, with 10 goals in the knockout round.
Asia’s all teams out of the ongoing FIFA World Cup
After Japan’s elimination at the hands of Brazil, all Asian teams are now out of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Australia, from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), however, are still in the global competition, but they are not an Asian nation.
Asia sent its largest-ever contingent to the global event— nine teams. Now, only one remains, and they don’t even belong to the continent.
The Asian teams’ performance remained damning. Iraq conceded 12 goals, scoring just once.
Uzbekistan conceded 11, scoring twice. Qatar conceded 10, scoring twice. Jordan conceded eight, scoring three. Saudi Arabia conceded five, scored one. South Korea scored two and conceded three. Iran, the only team among the seven to avoid defeat, conceded three and scored three.
Together, the seven eliminated Asian teams won just one match, drew six and lost 14. Collectively, they scored 14 goals and conceded 52.
Four teams finished with one point or less. Three teams finished with zero. Qatar, the two-time defending Asian champions, managed just one point from a draw with Switzerland. Uzbekistan, Jordan and Iraq finished with nothing.
The expanded format was supposed to be the best chance for Asian nations to prove their skills, instead, it exposed a continent that has not progressed as quickly as its quota suggests.
The first round of FIFA World Cup matches offered something different than the preceding fixtures. In the first round, South Korea beat the Czech Republic; Japan drew with the Netherlands; Saudi Arabia drew with Uruguay; Iran drew with Belgium and Egypt. The later games, however, proved a debacle.
As the tournament settled into its rhythm and the big teams found their form, the Asian sides, one by one, were picked off.
Saudi Arabia that had beaten Argentina in 2022, could not replicate that magic and finished with just two points.
