Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have both scored four goals at the 2026 World Cup
ByMatt Jones
BBC Sport journalist
Two of the greatest forwards in world football will go head-to-head at Boston Stadium on Friday, as France and Kylian Mbappe take on Norway and Erling Haaland.
Both nations have won their opening two group-stage matches at the World Cup, helped by devastating displays from their star strikers. Mbappe and Haaland have each scored twice in both of their opening games, leaving them on four goals for the tournament. Lionel Messi leads the race for the Golden Boot with five.
With top spot in Group I still up for grabs, both players are expected to start despite their teams having already secured qualification for the knockout stages. The match effectively serves as a playoff to determine who finishes first and, in theory, earns a more favourable path in the bracket.
BBC Sport looks at how important each player is to his team before what promises to be a captivating World Cup contest.
How important are they?
Although both are key players for their clubs, the importance of Mbappe and Haaland is elevated even further on the international stage.
Since August 2022, France have won 69.8% of their matches with Mbappe in the side, compared with just 50% without him.
Mbappe, France's all-time leading goalscorer, also helps make the team more productive in attack. During that period, Les Bleus have averaged 2.3 goals per game with him in the team, compared with 1.9 without him.
Given Norway's comparatively limited depth, it is no surprise that Haaland is even more crucial to his nation.
Since August 2022, Norway have won 64.5% of matches with Haaland in the team, compared with just 33.3% without him.
This World Cup has shown that neither player is daunted by the pressure of a major tournament too.
For all the focus on Messi, it feels only a matter of time before Mbappe reels him in at the top of the World Cup scoring charts.
The Frenchman trails the 39-year-old by just two goals after scoring 16 times in 16 World Cup appearances. Crucially, Mbappe is 12 years younger than Messi and, while you would not completely rule out the Argentina legend returning in four years' time, this is likely to be his final World Cup.
Haaland is playing in his first World Cup and has taken to the tournament like a Viking rower to water.
He is the sixth player in World Cup history to score multiple goals in each of his first two appearances at the tournament and only the second to do so in the past 50 years, after Harry Kane for England in 2018.
His recent form for Norway has been remarkable, too. He has scored in 12 consecutive competitive internationals, including an incredible 16 goals in his last six matches.
On the international stage, Haaland has also been the more prolific scorer overall. Mbappe has an impressive 60 international goals in 100 games, but the Norway striker is just one behind on 59 despite having played only 52 matches for his country - 48 fewer than Mbappe.
How do their games compare?
Their respective heat maps from the tournament offer an insight into where they do most of their work on the pitch.
Kylian Mbappe's heat map from the 2026 World Cup
Erling Haaland's heat map from the 2026 World Cup
In terms of attacking metrics for their clubs this season, Mbappe outperforms Haaland in shots, touches and chances created, although the City striker recorded more assists in 2025-26.
There is also a significant difference in their dribbling numbers, something that has been evident this summer. At this World Cup, the Frenchman has attempted 14 dribbles across the first two matches, compared with just one from Haaland.
Where Haaland has held the edge is in chance conversion. Across the past four club seasons in league matches, he has converted 23.43% of his shots, compared with Mbappe's 18.24%. This season, Mbappe narrowed the gap but was still slightly behind.
Mbappe also comes up short of Haaland in terms of his defensive contribution. For Real Madrid this season, he ranked 1,481st out of all 1,483 players to have played a minimum of 900 minutes for combined defensive contributions in the top five leagues.
How far can Haaland carry Norway?
Haaland and his team celebrate after their win over Senegal
Their respective and comparable importance is neatly illustrated by their recent international goal involvements.
Since August 2022, Mbappe has been involved in 44% of France's goals, contributing 33 goals and 17 assists. During the same period, Haaland has contributed 39 goals and four assists, accounting for 43.9% of Norway's goal involvements.
France, of course, have loftier ambitions this summer and are among the favourites to win the tournament. Even Haaland himself has said he believes Les Bleus will beat Norway on Friday and go on to lift the trophy.
Norway are capable of giving the French a bloody nose though, especially with the game's most dominant penalty-box predator in red-hot form. With Haaland, it would be foolish to put a lid on their ambitions.