Kylian Mbappé scored his 22nd World Cup goal during the 2026 tournament, surpassing Lionel Messi’s previous record of 21 goals. Achieving this milestone in just 22 games, Mbappé set a pace unmatched in World Cup history. This record is drawing attention not only in football but also in crypto markets, where related tokens and NFTs have surged alongside his performances.
Mbappé’s Impact on Digital Football Assets
Mbappé has been involved in the crypto space since June 2022, when he became both an ambassador and investor in Sorare, an Ethereum-based platform for NFT fantasy football cards. Unlike typical sponsorships, Mbappé invested money in Sorare, which allows users to buy and trade officially licensed player cards. On Sorare, rare Mbappé NFT cards have fetched prices as high as $66,850. Throughout the 2026 World Cup knockout stages, trading volumes and values of Mbappé cards on Sorare rose in correlation with his goal-scoring streak.
Meme Tokens and the Speculative Market
Beyond NFTs, Mbappé’s World Cup success has sparked increased speculative activity in meme tokens on the Solana blockchain. Tokens such as $MBAPPE and $MBAPEPE feature his likeness without official endorsement but have nonetheless attracted significant trader interest. These tokens are community-driven and do not represent any officially launched crypto projects connected to Mbappé.
Scoring Milestones and Career Context
Mbappé’s World Cup scoring shows steady growth: 4 goals in 2018 when France won the title, 8 goals in 2022 including a final hat trick, and now surpassing Messi in 2026. He reached just over 12 goals before the 2026 event and added 10 more to break the record. Messi took part in five World Cups from 2006 to 2026 to achieve his 21-goal total. Mbappé has also hit 100 combined goals and assists for France, highlighting his broader contribution to the national team’s success.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.
