CORNERFLICK
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are the only players left with a chance of threatening Just Fontaine’s World Cup scoring record of 13 goals in a single tournament.
Fontaine set the mark in Sweden in 1958, when he scored 13 times in six matches for France. That total remains untouched, despite several decades of World Cups since then.
Messi has eight goals in six games at this tournament. His goals include a hat-trick against Algeria in the opening match, a brace against Austria, and strikes against Jordan, Cape Verde and Egypt. He failed to score in the quarter-final win over Switzerland.
Mbappe also has eight goals. France’s run has seen him score against Senegal and Iraq in the group stage, then against Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco in the knockout rounds. Norway are the only side to keep him out.
Messi will look to add to his tally against England in the semi-finals, while Mbappe faces Spain. The two matches will decide the World Cup finalists and could put a 68-year-old record under pressure.