* Move level with Lionel Messi in the 2026 Golden Boot race, while also moving within one of the Argentine’s all-time FIFA World Cup record of 21 goals
* The Frenchman became only the second player in tournament history to reach 20 goals overall, after the Argentina icon Messi
* This was France’s second win against Morocco at the FIFA World Cup™ having beaten the North Africans also 2-0 in Qatar 2022 edition
Maravi Express
Just like Lionel Messi on Tuesday, Kylian Mbappé scored, assisted and was denied from the penalty spot as France overcame Morocco 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup™ 2026 quarterfinal tie last night.
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Mbappe recovered from the saved penalty to score a glorious goal and assist Ousmane Dembélé as France booked their place in the semi-finals to meet winners of tonight’s tie between European champions Spain and Belgium.
This was France’s second win against Morocco at the FIFA World Cup™ having beaten the North Africans also 2-0 in Qatar 2022 edition.
Mbappé was felled by Noussair Mazraoui for a first-half spot-kick but, following a long wait, the Real Madrid superstar saw his weak effort kept out by Yasmine Bounou.
However, Mbappé was not to be denied after the interval as he picked out the far corner with an inch-perfect curler to move level with Lionel Messi in the 2026 Golden Boot race, while also moving within one of the Argentine’s all-time FIFA World Cup record of 21 goals.
Morocco had been tipped to pose a serious threat to France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final — but Didier Deschamps’ men were always in control against a limited side who failed to register a single shot on goal until an 83rd-minute free-kick by Azzedine Ounahi was parried away by goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Morocco managed to hold out to half-time after Mbappe’s penalty was saved, but it was always only a matter of time before France’s relentless pressure paid off.
The breakthrough came on the hour mark, with Mbappe bending a brilliant right-foot shot past Bounou from the edge of the area.
Paris Saint-Germain star Dembele made the game safe in the 66th minute, striding forward menacingly from midfield before steering a low finish into the bottom corner.
Mbappé was later replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta after going down with no other players in the vicinity. That appeared to be a precaution as he waved to supporters before taking his place on the bench, and though he was later seen applying an ice pack on the bench, he then seemed to be moving well during France’s post-match celebrations.
There have only been four occasions in the last 60 years that a player has missed a penalty, scored and assisted in a World Cup game, and two of those have come in the last three days.
On Tuesday, it was Messi in Argentina’s comeback win over Egypt, and in Boston, it was Mbappé who took the headlines.
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Although France were frustrated for the first hour of the game before Mbappé had his say, in a similar manner to their last-16 win over Paraguay, Les Bleus racked up 1.87 expected goals (xG) in the first half alone – the most by any team when failing to score by the interval at this tournament.
Bounou’s penalty save, meanwhile, was his 4th at FIFA World Cups (including shoot-outs) – the most by any goalkeeper on record (since 1966).
He has faced nine spot-kicks overall in the competition and only been beaten twice (also three off target).
But there was nothing he could do about Mbappé’s superb opener, which ensured the 2026 World Cup is the first edition ever to see two players score eight or more goals, with the Frenchman becoming only the second player in tournament history to reach 20 goals overall, after Argentina icon Messi.
Mbappé is also the first player to ever achieve 10 or more goal involvements at multiple World Cups, with his eight goals and three assists at this edition bettering his return from 2022 (eight goals, two assists).—Reporting by Opta Analyst & AFP; editing by Maravi Express
Knockout stages results
Round of 32
* South Africa 0-1 Canada
* Jordan 1-3 Argentina
* Brazil 2-1 Japan
* Germany 1(3)-1(4) Paraguay
* Netherlands 1(2)-1(3) Morocco
* Côte d’Ivoire 1-2 Norway
* France 3-0 Sweden
* Mexico 2-0 Ecuador
* England 1-2 DR Congo
* Belgium 3-2 Senegal
* USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina
* Spain 3-0 Austria
* Portugal 2-1 Croatia
* Switzerland 2-0 Algeria
* Australia 1(2)-1(4) Egypt
* Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
* Colombia 1-0 Ghana
Round of 16
* Canada 0-3 Morocco
* Paraguay 0-1 France
* Brazil 1-2 Norway
* Mexico 2-3 England
* Portugal 0-1 Spain
* USA 1-4 Belgium
* Argentina 3-2 Egypt
* Switzerland 0(4)-0(3) Colombia
Quarterfinals
* Morocco 0-2 France
Today, July 10
* Belgium v Spain (21h00)
* Norway v England (23h00)
* Argentina v Switzerland (03h00)
Semifinals
Tuesday, July 14
France v Belgium/Spain
Wednesday, July 15
* Norway/England v Argentina/Switzerland
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