PHILADELPHIA (AP) 鈥� passed Pel茅 on the goal-scoring list and inched closer to setting the overall goal record for the tournament. And, Mbapp茅 also set France鈥檚 national team goal-scoring record.
All that in just his first World Cup game of this tournament.
Stopping the 2022 trophy winner seems almost impossible.
Iraq coach Graham Arnold 鈥� tasked with slowing down Mbapp茅 and the 2022 World Cup finalist France on Monday in the second Group I match 鈥� had an idea that might have worked.
鈥淚 asked if we could play three goalkeepers,鈥� Arnold said with a laugh on Sunday. 鈥淏ut they said no.鈥�
The 27-year-old Mbapp茅, who stars for Real Madrid, has another milestone to hit against Iraq before his powerful foot takes a single kick. Already playing in his third World Cup and a champion in 2018, Mbapp茅 will play his 100th international game for France.
鈥淚t’s always a pleasure to be able to play on the national team,鈥� Mbapp茅 said at a jam-packed press conference inside the locker room of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. 鈥淭here’s nothing bigger than the national team. One hundred, that’s historic. All the more when it’s the World Cup.鈥�
He could overtake coach and former captain Didier Deschamps (103 appearances as a midfielder) if France goes deep at this tournament. Barring injury, Mbapp茅 could go on to overtake goalkeeper Hugo Lloris鈥� record of 145 appearances for Les Bleus.
Mbapp茅, one of two men to have a hat trick in a World Cup final, scored his 13th and 14th World Cup goals in against Senegal. Those were his 57th and 58th playing internationally, tying and passing Oliver Giroud for the most in the country鈥檚 rich history.
Mbapp茅鈥檚 second goal broke a tie with Pel茅 on the World Cup list.
His 14 World Cup goals include two at this tournament; eight in 2022, where he earned the Golden Boot trophy as top scorer; and four in 2018.
Mbapp茅 is now tied with Germany鈥檚 Gerd M眉ller for the fourth-most in World Cup history. Mbapp茅 is one behind Brazil鈥檚 Ronaldo and two away from the record of 16 held by Miroslav Klose of Germany and Lionel Messi, who in this World Cup.
With at least another decade and potentially at least two more World Cups, plus the remaining games in this event ahead of him, the debate has started to rage: Could Mbapp茅 go down as the greatest ever World Cup player?
鈥淚t’s debate for the people,鈥� Mbapp茅 said in English. 鈥淚t’s debate for the journalists, debate for the fans of football. I think it’s good to debate about players. See who’s the best. For me, it’s not a question in my head. It’s just about how can I help my team tomorrow against Iraq and can I bring the trophy home in July.鈥�
Mbapp茅 joked he won’t play international games until he’s 40 and did tip his cap toward Messi as the current best player in soccer. He also refused to completely rule out a move to MLS 鈥� much like Messi did with Inter Miami 鈥� and noted , co-owner in Miami, has made a pitch for Mbapp茅 to one day make the move to the United States. Mbapp茅 shrugged off the suggestion with a 鈥渨e’ll see.鈥�
鈥淭he American culture is different,鈥� Mbapp茅 said. “There are no limits to ambitions, I like it鈥�
That’s a potential move for well, well down the road.
Mbapp茅 helped France win the World Cup title in 2018 and reach the final in 2022, when he was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player. Joined up front by D茅sir茅 Dou茅 and reigning Ballon d鈥橭r winner Ousmane Demb茅l茅, France went into this year鈥檚 tournament as the co-favorite along with Spain.
Les Blues won in 1998 and , then on penalty kicks.
Much to Iraq’s dismay, Mbapp茅 only has to beat one goalkeeper and not three.
Arnold said he hasn’t decided on his goalkeeper for Monday after team captain Jalal Hassan allowed all four goals in Iraq’s to Norway.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 control France鈥檚 performance, but we can control our own,鈥� Arnold said. “And we鈥檙e making sure that the players are completely ready to go out there and show the world what they鈥檙e about.鈥�
Time to clean up
Iraq earned praise for throwing away trash and cleaning the rest of its after its loss at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.
Iraq also left a heartfelt note on the locker room message board that said, 鈥淭hank you, Boston.鈥�
鈥淭hey made the mess,鈥� Arnold said, “so then they cleaned it up. Out of respect for who we are and where we are. It was great leadership.鈥�
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