World Cup

Kylian Mbappé leads the race with 10 goals after 8 matches for France. He is 2 goals clear of L. Messi on 8, while J. Bellingham sits 3 back on 7. At the current rate Kylian Mbappé projects to finish on around 40 for the season.

Kylian Mbappé has scored 10 goals for France this season, accounting for 100% of the team's 10 league goals. The output goes well beyond a flat scoring rate. He is the player France turn to in tight games and the one defenders have to pick up first. Recent goal hauls include 2 goals against England, 2 goals against Morocco, and 1 goal against Paraguay. The numbers put him in the conversation for player of the season as long as the form holds.

1. Kylian Mbappé (France) on 10 goals. 2. L. Messi (Argentina) on 8 goals. 3. J. Bellingham (England) on 7 goals. 4. E. Haaland (Norway) on 7 goals. 5. O. Dembélé (France) on 6 goals.

M. Olise of France tops the assists chart with 7. Kylian Mbappé (France) is next on 4, and L. Messi of Argentina rounds out the top three on 4.

E. Haaland of Norway is the most efficient finisher in the league at 1.35 goals per 90 minutes. He has 7 goals from 465 minutes, so volume is not the headline. The story is how rarely he wastes time on the pitch.

Kylian Mbappé is the breakout story so far. In a first season at this level he has 10 goals for France, the kind of return scouts will keep on file. Defenders did not have much footage to study, and Kylian Mbappé has used that to his advantage.