The 27-year-old Kylian Mbappe showcased his prowess by scoring a double as Les Bleus triumphed over Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32 on Tuesday, putting him just one goal shy of Lionel Messi's record of 19 World Cup goals. With this performance, he joins Messi at the top of the scoring charts for this tournament, each boasting six goals.

"I think the ultimate goal, as I mentioned, is to advance as far as possible - to reach (the ⁠final on) July 19th and return here with the trophy," Mbappe stated during a press conference. Having netted his 18 goals in just 18 matches, he expressed his determination to focus on the bigger picture.

"We’re aiming for victory; we’re taking it step by step. Naturally, the more goals you score, the higher you rise in the rankings - that's no secret.

"However, I firmly believe that Leo will score more goals, so I’m not overly concerned with that; my focus is on the opponents we may encounter and how close we are getting to our objective: the final."

Argentina, led by Messi, will face off against the underdogs Cape Verde in the last 32 on Friday. Meanwhile, France is set to take on Paraguay, vying for a spot in the quarter-finals, where they would meet either co-hosts Canada or Morocco.

Paraguay adopted an ultra-defensive strategy against Germany, ultimately knocking the four-time world champions out in a penalty shootout during the last 32 on Monday. It’s unlikely they will adopt a more aggressive approach against France in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Les Bleus are not taking anything for granted as Mbappe emphasized the importance of preparation.

"I think we’ll continue to analyze and improve our performance leading up to the Paraguay match, as there are still sequences that need clarity and plenty of room for improvement," he remarked.

"Nonetheless, I believe our overall performance has been positive, and our ability to score goals keeps us in contention to take the lead in matches."

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