Kylian Mbappe at the 2026 World Cup
France heads to North America in search of a third World Cup title, with Mbappe entering as one of the Golden Boot favourites. It has been a strange season for the Frenchman at Real Madrid, where a solid personal output has been overshadowed by a trophyless campaign that has made him a target of fan frustration.
Mbappe played a major role in the 2018 triumph at just 19, then scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final against Argentina. Mbappe's World Cup goal record stands at 12 by the age of 27, putting Miroslav Klose's all-time mark of 16 well within reach if France advances far in the tournament.
France were drawn into Group I alongside Senegal, Norway and Iraq, with their first game at MetLife Stadium on June 16. Norway, powered by Haaland, provide the most intriguing group stage fixture, though France are clear favourites to advance. With penalty responsibilities, a guaranteed starting role and one of the deepest squads at the tournament around him, his path to another big summer should be relatively straightforward.
Will Kylian Mbappe be playing at the 2026 World Cup?
Is Mbappe playing in the 2026 World Cup? Deschamps confirmed his place in the official 26-man squad earlier this year, and his selection was never seriously in doubt throughout the qualification campaign. The only real concern heading into June is match fitness, after a semitendinosus muscle injury picked up in late April added to an already stop-start season at Madrid.
That injury came on top of a knee problem earlier in the season that kept him out for nearly two months. France's medical staff will be hoping Real Madrid's cautious management of his recovery holds up before the pre-tournament camp begins. He returned to score against Brazil in a March friendly, an encouraging sign for both club and country.
France's squad is one of the deepest Deschamps has ever managed, with Ballon d'Or holder Dembele and the in-form Olise among those competing for attacking roles. Despite the star power around him, Mbappe remains the most consistent performer in that group and is no doubt a key player in their World Cup squad. A brief fallout with the international setup was quickly resolved, and there are no issues regarding his place in the squad now.
Kylian Mbappe's Record at the World Cup
Mbappe’s World Cup record is already historic, with 12 goals across 14 appearances at two tournaments. Russia 2018 brought four goals as France lifted the trophy, making him the first teenager since Pelé to score in a World Cup final. Qatar 2022 followed with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final against Argentina that earned him the Golden Boot and made him the first player to score a hat-trick in a final since Geoff Hurst in 1966.
Here is how the Mbappe World Cup goals record breaks down across his two tournaments so far:
Appearances: 14 matches across 2018 and 2022, with two final appearances
Goals: 12 goals at 0.86 per game, level with Pele on the all-time list
Records: Top scorer in World Cup final matches with four goals, and only the second player to score in consecutive finals after Brazilian striker Vava in 1958 and 1962
Best finish: World Cup winner in 2018, runner-up in 2022 after a penalty shootout defeat to Argentina
All-time standing: Only five players have scored more World Cup goals: Klose (16), Ronaldo Nazario (15), Gerd Muller (14), Messi (13) and Just Fontaine (13)
Mbappe’s World Cup goals record of 12 puts Miroslav Klose's all-time mark of 16 well within reach at a third tournament. Just Fontaine's single-tournament record of 13 from 1958 has never been seriously threatened, with Mbappe's eight in Qatar the closest any player has come in the modern era. Four more goals in North America would tie Klose, and a fifth would make him the outright men's record holder.
Bet on Kylian Mbappe at the 2026 World Cup
Mbappe sits at the centre of almost every meaningful France betting market, with penalty duties and a guaranteed starting role making him the most straightforward Golden Boot pick in the field.
France carries the second-shortest tournament winner odds behind Spain, which gives him a clear runway of six or seven matches to build a goal tally. Mbappe’s hamstring concern is worth monitoring through the May friendlies, and any sign of full sharpness before June 11 would likely shorten his price further.
Here are the markets worth considering for the France captain:
Golden Boot: Available at 7.00 at LeoVegas, with Mbappe looking to become the first player to retain the award after his 2022 win
France to win the World Cup: France sits second in the outright market, and Mbappe is central to any realistic route to the trophy
Mbappe top France scorer: A near-certainty given his penalty and free-kick duties, though the odds reflect that and offer limited value
Mbappe anytime scorer vs Senegal: A straightforward pick for the opener, with first scorer available at a longer price for those wanting more return
Over 4.5 Mbappe tournament goals: He scored eight in Qatar, and France are expected to go far, so this line looks beatable if he stays fit throughout.
As demonstrated by his performance at Qatar 2022, this is a player who delivers when the stakes are highest. Backing him across markets tied to France's overall progression is the most logical approach heading into the tournament.