Iconic former Germany striker Miroslav Klose has been proven wrong after Kylian Mbappe eclipsed his World Cup goalscoring record.

Mbappe is in red-hot form for tournament favourites France, and the Real Madrid forward was at the double in a 3-0 win over Sweden. He took his tally to six goals in four games with two brilliant strikes.

The 27-year-old is now level with Lionel Messi in the goalscoring charts, and the pair are staging a memorable battle for the Golden Boot. His brace against the Swedes also made history as he overtook Klose as the outright second all-time top scorer in World Cup history.

Klose Backed Mbappe to Break World Cup Record

Mbappe has now managed 18 goals in as many World Cup games, putting him second behind Messi in the all-time goalscoring charts. The Argentina legend sits on 19 in 21 games, which includes the six he’s registered during the ongoing tournament.

Klose held the record for the most goals in the competition’s history for 12 years, but he has now moved down to third. The German hero had tipped Messi to break his record this year, while incorrectly predicting that Mbappe would do so at the 2030 World Cup.

The former Bayern Munich striker told Sport BILD: “I’m sure my goal-scoring record at the World Cup will be broken soon. Either Lionel Messi will achieve it at this World Cup, or at the latest Kylian Mbappe will do it at the next one.”

Mbappe has been magic for France, and he’s now chasing Messi in a hotly-contested Golden Boot race. Klose added:

“I’m a huge Messi fan. If it happens, I’d hope it’s him, if he’s still playing. But Mbappé is also an incredible talent. I wish them both good health and the ability to perform.”

Klose won the World Cup with Germany back in 2014, and he is the only player to win four medals, having finished third place in 2006 and 2010 and runner-up in 2002. He made 24 appearances in the tournament during his career, posting 16 goals and four assists.

Mbappe on Chasing Klose’s ‘Surreal’ Record

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Mbappe is participating in just his third World Cup campaign, and he already has a winners’ medal from France’s 2018 title. He lit up that tournament at the age of 19 and is now in his prime eight years later.

The time he’s taken to eclipse Klose’s record is simply astonishing, and he acknowledged this ahead of this year’s competition. He told Olivier Giroud for La Parisien in mid-June:

“Everyone talks to me about Klose’s record. I think it’s the first time in my life that a record has felt unreal. Because to me, it was unthinkable that in a competition every great legend of the game has played in, I’d already be at that level after just two World Cups at the age of 27.”

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Mbappe added: “To imagine being the person who has scored the most goals in the entire history of the World Cup is pretty surreal.”

The France captain insisted his main priority is to win the World Cup and “bring home a third star.” If he and Les Bleus continue as they are, no team will prevent them from becoming world champions.

LeBron James will no longer be a Los Angeles Laker. The 41-year-old has told the franchise he intends to sign elsewhere for the 2026/27 season, just one day after his son, Bronny James, saw his own contract with the Lakers become fully guaranteed.

It is a stunning twist that leaves father and son on separate paths for the first time since Bronny was drafted, and it throws the entire NBA free agency period into pure chaos.

So, where does the four-time champion go next? CanadaCasino have already installed a clear favourite, but there is no shortage of teams dreaming about a late-career run with one of the greatest players the sport has ever produced.

Here are the odds on LeBron’s next franchise, working from the rank outsiders up to the team everyone expects to land him.

LeBron James’ Next Team: Latest Odds

16. Portland Trail Blazers (60/1)

This feels like the longest of long shots, included here more for completeness than expectation. The ‘Blazers had leaned into a youth movement, even before landing Ja Morant in a trade with Memphis, and James joining what most would consider a rebuilding project, aside from the sentimental addition of Damian Lillard, would represent a complete departure from his recent history of chasing championships.

15. Boston Celtics (50/1)

The idea of James in Boston colours has always been pure fantasy given the rivalry the Lakers have shared with the Celtics for multiple decades, but stranger things have happened in NBA free agency. The Celtics would offer a genuine shot at contention if their roster stays largely intact, and James has never been shy about going where he believes he can win. Even so, the history between player and franchise makes this one feel like a non-starter in practice.

14. Denver Nuggets (50/1)

Denver already boasts a genuine superstar in three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, and James linking up with the Serbian to chase one more ring is the kind of romantic, long-odds storyline that gets attached to every big-name free agent. The roster fit makes some sense on paper, with James capable of playing alongside another ball-dominant offensive hub. Realistically, the salary issue and the lack of concrete links make this one a footnote rather than a contender.

13. Houston Rockets (50/1)

LeBron and the Lakers eliminated the Rockets from the playoffs only a few months ago, which makes this pairing an intriguing twist rather than an obvious next step. Houston’s young core has plenty of upside, and James’ mentorship, alongside Kevin Durant, could theoretically accelerate their timeline. Despite this being a solid idea, there’s been nothing concrete around such a move, and it’s hard to see the Rockets being willing to disrupt their development plan for a 41-year-old on a short-term deal.

12. LA Clippers (50/1)

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Staying in Los Angeles without staying with the Lakers would be a fascinating subplot, and the Clippers have shown a willingness to chase star power in the past. Their own roster situation remains in flux, given that Kawhi Leonard has just been traded to the Toronto Raptors, which makes it difficult to know exactly what shape this team will take by the time free agency gets going. Until that picture clears up, the Clippers remain a speculative shot rather than a serious contender.

11. Philadelphia 76ers (50/1)

After seeing star player Joel Embiid miss almost 50% of his games in his career, Philadelphia have had their own injury and roster headaches in recent seasons, and adding a 41-year-old with heavy mileage would be a curious response to those problems. There’s little to suggest the ‘Sixers are actively pursuing James, and his preference for proven title contenders makes a project still searching for full health and continuity an unlikely destination. Once again, this one sits firmly in the realm of speculation rather than true substance.

10. Washington Wizards (50/1)

Washington’s odds owe more to their connection to Anthony Davis than anything else. The 6’10” man has been heavily linked to a trade involving James’ camp, rather than to any direct pursuit of the man himself. The Wizards are deep in a rebuild, as evidenced by their signing of Trae Young and their first overall selection of AJ Dybantsa in this year’s draft. They appear to have shown no appetite for chasing star free agents since.

9. Brooklyn Nets (40/1)

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Brooklyn have been linked to almost every available star over the past few years without ever quite landing one, and James would represent their biggest swing yet. The Nets have salary cap flexibility, but little in the way of a finished roster around it, which makes a title chase a tough sell. Without stronger reporting attaching James to the franchise, this remains a long-shot scenario built on financial logic alone, and one that might actually be priced shorter than it really should be.

8. Milwaukee Bucks (40/1)

The odds of Milwaukee landing James shortened only after their decision to move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo, sending the Greek Freak to Miami. That trade leaves the Bucks searching for a new direction, and James arriving to lead a retooled roster would be one of the more unexpected storylines of the summer. In reality, the Giannis trade only partially eased financial issues in Milwaukee, and likely not the required amount of cap space to lure such a player.

7. Dallas Mavericks (30/1)

Dallas have had to reshape their identity since trading Luka Doncic away, and the Mavericks remain in something of an in-between phase as they work out what their next era looks like. James’ arrival would be an unexpected pivot rather than a natural progression of any existing plan, and there’s an obvious irony in him potentially landing at the franchise that gave up his current Lakers teammate. Concrete links remain thin on the ground, keeping Dallas firmly in outsider territory.

6. Detroit Pistons (30/1)

The Pistons’ rebuild has progressed quickly, and adding a player of James’ calibre would be a significant acceleration of their timeline, albeit temporary given his age. The Pistons have been busy this offseason reshaping their roster, and a marquee free agency splash would fit the ambitious mood around the franchise. Still, there is nothing tying James to Detroit, and a young, rising team may not be the ideal landing spot for a player chasing one final ring.

5. New York Knicks (30/1)

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New York enters this conversation as reigning NBA champions, having swept Cleveland on their way to the Eastern Conference crown before completing the job in the Finals with a 4-1 series victory over the San Antionio Spurs. That success gives them as strong a contending case as almost anyone on this list, even if the idea of James in the Big Apple has circulated for years without ever materialising. The Knicks’ roster construction makes squeezing in another max-calibre piece logistically tricky, but a title-winning core keeps them within shouting distance of a real possibility.

4. San Antonio Spurs (20/1)

San Antonio’s odds are built partly on James’ relationship with Gregg Popovich, one of the most respected figures in the sport, but also on genuine on-court substance. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs all the way to this season’s Finals, only to fall short against New York, and a roster already proven at that level makes the romantic Popovich reunion story carry a bit more weight, even if Popovic isn’t the coach anymore. It remains speculative, but San Antonio look less like a token long shot than they once did.

3. Miami Heat (10/1)

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After making one seismic move this offseason by trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, adding James to a Miami Heat roster featuring the Greek forward and Bam Adebayo, would be a genuine title swing. The Heat’s culture and James’ past ties to South Beach add real weight to the speculation, even if the roster around their two stars remains thin. It’s a destination with real logic behind it, even without a confirmed pursuit.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (3/1)

Cleveland represents the sentimental favourite, with James remaining the franchise’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals from his two previous spells there. The Cavs have been linked to a reunion ever since speculation about his Lakers future began. James also fuelled speculation after posting a video on his Instagram story, driving through the streets of his hometown of Akron, captioning it: “ENJOYING A NICE CRUISE THRU MY CITY.” Cleveland’s roster would likely require James to take a significant pay cut to fit financially, as the Cavs are the league’s highest spenders, given that Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are on their books, but the hometown pull remains one of the strongest storylines in this race.

1. Golden State Warriors (1/5)

The Warriors are the overwhelming favourites, and it’s not difficult to see why. Draymond Green’s decision to decline his player option and re-sign on a reduced deal, handed Golden State the financial flexibility to chase both James and possibly trade for Anthony Davis, with the Warriors reportedly eyeing yet another “big four,” built around Stephen Curry, James, Davis and Green. James has spoken before about wanting to play alongside Curry, and with insiders describing Golden State as the league’s most determined external suitor, this is the destination every rival is bracing for.

A Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise masterclass helped France ease to a 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 at the World Cup.

The French started to get control of the game, and Mbappe initially had a goal chalked off for offside. The Real Madrid forward was then denied by the post after a superb attacking move that nearly led to the opener.

Olise nearly scored the Goal of the Tournament in the 35th minute when he attempted a bicycle kick that also hit the post. Ousmane Dembele followed up with a strike that flew just wide of the goal.

Les Bleus finally took the lead in the 45th minute, and Mbappe bagged his fifth goal in four games. He shifted the ball past Viktor Gyokeres after clever build-up play from Olise and Ousmane Dembele before firing past Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

It took just seven minutes after the restart for Bradley Barcola to make it two-nil, and Olise magicked up a brilliant assist. The Bayern Munich man played the ball through Gustaf Lagerbielke’s legs, and Barcola found the back of the net.

A special third came in the 73rd minute, and Deschamps’ men created one of the best attacking moves you’ll see. Olise was again right in the thick of things with a slick pass to Mbappe, who drew level with Lionel Messi at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Match Highlights

Still to come…

France Player Ratings

Kyle Ross (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

It’s going to take something special to beat this star-studded France team who have been at their best throughout the tournament. As Patrick Vieira says, ‘this is the Mbappe World Cup ‘, and he was at the peak of his powers in East Rutherford.

In midfield, Adrien Rabiot might have a case for being the most underrated French player in history. The AC Milan midfielder impressed going forward while ensuring the Swedes couldn’t gain momentum in the middle of the park.

If Liverpool scouts were watching tonight’s game, they might be ready to swoop for Bradley Barcola, who put in a fine performance and took his goal well. His pace is a nightmare for defenders, and he might just have permanently displaced PSG teammate Desire Doue.

Everything Olise seems to touch turns to gold, and he is shining in Deschamps’ team. If France go on to win the World Cup, he’ll surely be eyeing the Ballon d’Or.

Sweden Player Ratings

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Graham Potter’s side were second best throughout and wasted the limited opportunities that came their way. Yasin Ayari put in a positive performance, looking to cause problems on the counter and forcing the French into a few fouls.

Derby County goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom did his best to prevent Les Bleus from running riot with several decent saves. He could do nothing about Mbappe’s opener that flew past him with pace.

Zetterstrom’s defence couldn’t contain the fearsome French frontline who often left them chasing shadows. Victor Lindelof, in particular, had his work cut out for him after dropping into defence from midfield.

Viktor Gyokeres tried using his strength to give Arsenal teammate William Saliba problems, but an inevitable lack of service prevented him from influencing proceedings. As for Alexander Isak, the Liverpool striker was rarely involved, and on today’s showing he’s not in the same league as Mbappe and Olise.