Kylian Mbappe and World Cup records go together like goals and glory and on Thursday night, he added another to his growing collection.When Mbappe took to the pitch for France’s quarterfinal clash against Morocco in Boston on Thursday, he became the youngest player in history to make 20 FIFA World Cup appearances, reaching the milestone at the age of 27 years and 201 days. The previous record belonged to Poland’s Wladislaw Zmuda, who reached 20 World Cup matches in 28 years and 34 days during the 1986 tournament in Mexico. Mbappe broke it for almost a year.The timing of the milestone is apt. Mbappe made his World Cup debut as a 19-year-old at Russia 2018, helping France lift the trophy in a stunning 4-2 final win over Croatia, becoming the first teenager since Pele to score in a World Cup final in the process. He returned to Qatar 2022, winning the Golden Boot with eight goals despite France’s heartbreaking final loss to Argentina on penalties. Now in 2026, he has reached the quarterfinals with seven goals to his name, sitting just two behind Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.Twenty appearances. Three World Cups. A World Cup winner’s medal. And at 27, he has at least two more World Cups ahead of him.The record is not the only one Mbappe holds in this tournament. He has already surpassed Miroslav Klose’s men’s World Cup goals record, becoming only the second player after Messi to score seven or more goals in two different editions of the World Cup. He is also the only player in history to score three or more goals in the knockout stages of three separate World Cups, a feat achieved against Paraguay in the Round of 16.Messi holds the outright record for World Cup appearances with 30, set in six tournaments. Mbappé, who has at least two editions ahead of him, has every chance to chase that number as well.Zmuda played in four World Cups in 12 years to reach his mark. Mbappé reached the same figure in three tournaments in eight years.