At 27, Kylian Mbappé is already among the greatest World Cup players, having shone since his 2018 triumph and consistently ranking among the tournament’s top scorers. However, he now confronts a significant challenge against Spain, seeking a milestone he has never before attained in a knockout round.
Mbappé aims to net his first World Cup semifinal goal against Spain. Though he sits as the tournament’s second‑highest all‑time scorer, he was unable to score in the Qatar 2022 quarter‑final against Morocco or the Russia 2018 round of 16 versus Belgium. Consequently, the 27‑year‑old forward seeks his inaugural semifinal goal and hopes to propel France into a third straight final.
Although Mbappé has never scored in a World Cup semifinal, he has been prolific in finals, netting in both the 2018 and 2022 championship matches — a 4‑2 win over Croatia and a hat‑trick against Argentina. His reputation as a decisive scorer positions him to leave his mark across every tournament round.
Kylian Mbappé’s record vs Spain ahead of World Cup clash
Mbappé has amassed 104 appearances for France, scoring 64 goals, making him the nation’s all‑time leading scorer. Despite this, he has faced Spain only four times, winning once and maintaining a modest goal tally against them.
Kylian Mbappe #10 of France walks off the pitch.
Mbappé has scored only two goals for France against Spain. His first came in the 2021 UEFA Nations League final, and his latest was a penalty in the 2025 tournament semifinal. With his most recent victory in 2021, he now aims to break his World Cup semifinal drought and defeat Luis de la Fuente’s side again.
Mbappé has another motivation vs Spain: World Cup scoring record
Kylian Mbappé is enjoying his strongest World Cup campaign yet, contributing to a goal in each match he has played. Fully motivated for the Spain clash, he seeks both to break his semifinal goal drought and to surpass the all‑time World Cup scoring record.
The 27‑year‑old forward has scored 20 goals in 20 World Cup matches for France, overtaking Miroslav Klose and moving into second place on the all‑time scoring list. He now rivals Lionel Messi, who leads with 21 goals.