France captain Kylian Mbappé said his main goal is to lift the World Cup trophy on July 19 in New York, rather than chasing personal records. France secured their place in the last 16 with a 3–0 victory over Sweden, where Mbappé scored twice. His total of 18 World Cup goals is now just one short of Lionel Messi’s all-time record of 19. Despite matching Messi’s six goals in the current tournament, Mbappé emphasized that team success matters more than individual achievements.

Speaking at a press conference, the Real Madrid forward said the team’s focus is on progressing as far as possible and returning to the same venue for the final. He downplayed the importance of goal records, noting that his attention is on upcoming opponents and reaching the final. France will face Paraguay next, a team that eliminated Germany in a tiebreaker. Mbappé acknowledged that improvements are still needed but expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to change the course of any match.

If France defeat Paraguay, they will meet either host Canada or Morocco in the semifinals. Mbappé reiterated that the World Cup trophy means far more to him than the Golden Boot award.