<p><strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/kylian-mbappe/">Kylian Mbappe</a></strong> and <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/gerd-muller/">Gerd Muller</a></strong> have been linked through World Cup history after the France superstar reached a milestone that places him among the greatest performers the tournament has ever seen.&nbsp;<strong>Mbappe’s latest achievement has created another historic chapter in his career, proving once again that he continues to rewrite the standards expected from a modern World Cup forward.</strong></p>



<p>The Real Madrid attacker has already built a remarkable tournament legacy, but his latest performance for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/france/">France</a> against Morocco showed why he belongs in conversations with legends from previous generations.&nbsp;<strong>With the biggest matches still ahead, the 27-year-old has placed himself within reach of records that have stood untouched for decades.</strong></p>



<p>Les Bleus continued their pursuit of another <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/">World Cup</a> trophy after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals.&nbsp;<strong>Mbappe played a decisive role in the victory, scoring one goal and creating another as France secured a place in the semifinals for the third consecutive tournament.</strong></p>



<p>The forward endured a dramatic evening after missing a first-half penalty opportunity, but he quickly responded when it mattered most. Mbappe found the net after the missed spot kick before assisting Ousmane Dembele shortly afterward, completing another influential performance on the biggest stage.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="FIFA WC 2026 | France - Morocco 2:0 | (četvrtfinale ) | 09.07.2026." width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zQlzVIQ_U2w?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<p>The result also moved him closer to Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the race for the World Cup’s all-time scoring record.&nbsp;<strong>Messi currently leads the historic ranking with 21 goals, while Mbappe has continued closing the gap during his third World Cup appearance.</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Player</th><th>National Team</th><th>Goals</th><th>Assists</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>1.</strong></td><td><strong>Kylian Mbappe</strong></td><td><strong>France</strong></td><td><strong>8</strong></td><td><strong>3</strong></td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Argentina</td><td>8</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>Erling Haaland</td><td>Norway</td><td>7</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>Harry Kane</td><td>England</td><td>6</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>Ousmane Dembele</td><td>France</td><td>5</td><td>2</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>The record-breaking World Cup achievement revealed</h2>



<p>Mbappe’s performance against Morocco helped him reach a historic mark that had not been achieved since Germany legend Gerd Muller dominated the 1970 tournament.</p>



<p>According to<strong><em> Opta</em></strong>’sstatistics,<strong> Mbappe has recorded 11 direct goal involvements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with eight goals and three assists.</strong>&nbsp;That makes him the first player since Muller in 1970 to reach at least 11 combined goals and assists in a single World Cup campaign.</p>



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">11 – 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé has been involved in 11 goals at the 2026 World Cup (8 goals, 3 assists).<br><br>That&apos;s the most by a player in a single edition since 🇩🇪 Gerd Müller in 1970 (10 goals, 3 assists).<br><br>Productive. <a href="https://t.co/sJ6P4jU2dL">pic.twitter.com/sJ6P4jU2dL</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://x.com/OptaJoe/status/2075341949200961664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2026</a></blockquote></div> 



<p>Muller produced one of the greatest individual tournaments in history during the 1970 World Cup, scoring 10 goals and adding three assists for West Germany.&nbsp;<strong>Mbappe’s current numbers match that legendary level of influence more than five decades later.</strong></p>



<p>Before Muller’s achievement, France icon Just Fontaine delivered the most extraordinary scoring tournament ever recorded, scoring 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup. Fontaine’s record remains the highest single-tournament goal tally in World Cup history.</p>



<h2>Mbappe creates history with consistent World Cup excellence</h2>



<p>The French superstar’s latest milestone adds another achievement to an already impressive World Cup résumé.&nbsp;<strong>Mbappe has now also become the first player in World Cup history to score at least eight goals in two different tournaments.</strong></p>



<p>The 27-year-old scored eight goals during France’s run to the 2022 final and has matched that total during the 2026 competition. Before Mbappe, only a small group of players had managed to score eight or more goals in a single World Cup.</p>



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">10 – 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappe has registered 10 goal involvements in each of his last two FIFA World Cups – he&apos;s only the only player on record since 1966 to achieve this in two different tournaments.<br><br>8 goals, 2 assists in 2022<br>8 goals, 2 assists in 2026<br><br>Symmetry. <a href="https://t.co/VOA7lHDt5C">pic.twitter.com/VOA7lHDt5C</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://x.com/OptaJoe/status/2075331033180864697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2026</a></blockquote></div> 



<p>His performances have also surpassed some of the greatest individual campaigns in soccer history. Diego Maradona’s iconic 1986 tournament included five goals and five assists as Argentina lifted the trophy, while Mbappe has already produced greater attacking numbers during France’s current campaign.</p>


Kylian Mbappe reaches incredible 56-year-old World Cup milestone not seen since Gerd Muller in 1970

Kylian Mbappe reaches incredible 56-year-old World Cup milestone not seen since Gerd Muller in 1970 - World Soccer Talk

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<div><figure class="external-image"><img src="http://www.dololanguages.com/German/images/GermanFlag.jpg" alt="Flaggy Teaches"></figure></div>
<p>I am going through the process of learning German and while finding the toilet is always nice, it really doesn’t help when it comes to the reason I want to learn the language: Fußball.  So here are seven random words for you who don’t know German to learn.  You will come across them on occasion.   And if not written by me, there’s a good chance they will be used properly.</p>
<p><strong>1. Tor)</strong> This is a goal and the name of the definitive English language book on the German game by <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tor-Story-German-Football-Hesse-Lichtenberger/dp/0954013433">Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger</a>.  Hertha Berlin’s sensitive fans need not learn the word as it a fairly meaningless concept to them, like teaching a dog the word for galaxy.   Sure they can look up and see one in the sky, but when your biggest thrill is smelling your own crack, there’s little point.</p>
<p><strong>2. Hinrunde/Rückrunde)</strong> The Bundesliga is split evenly by a very long winter break.   So the first 17 games are called the Hinrunde.  The second half of the season is the Rückrunde.  The winter break is just called “Annoying”.</p>
<p><strong>3. Meisterschaft)</strong> Championship! An approximation of the compound word is top team, although it works equally well in a cruder translation for Bayern Munich as they are a bunch of cock monkeys (schaft has the same connotation in English and German).</p>
<p><strong>4. Dreierkette)</strong> This is a defense with a three-man back-line.  Why is this important?  Because it was the standard until, a then 40 year old, Ralf Rangnick introduced a flat back four to the Bundesliga.  It is called the Veierkette and Klinsmann has been known to club baby seals at it’s uttering.</p>
<p><strong>5. Jack Wolfskin)</strong> This is literally a crazy man living in the Black Forest who is into skinning wolves and self-promotion.  Okay….it’s a sporting good’s chain that you see advertised everywhere.  But admit it, you wanted to believe my story. </p>
<p><strong>6. Punkte)</strong> Points!  But many KSC supporters will feel that Ashton Kushter is Punkte-ng them at the moment. </p>
<p><strong>7. Torschützenkönig)</strong> While Torjäger means goal scorer and you will see tables referring to the top goal tally under the banner of that name, the title at season’s end is called Torschützenkönig.  It’s also a term that roughly translates into “Nice job, but you ain’t Gerd fucking Muller, are you?”</p>


The Set: 7 Words For Non-German Speakers To Know

The Set: 7 Words For Non-German Speakers To Know - World Soccer Talk

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Kylian Mbappe reaches incredible 56-year-old World Cup milestone not seen since Gerd Muller in 1970

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The Set: 7 Words For Non-German Speakers To Know