Kylian Mbappe Shines as France Advances to FIFA World Cup Semifinals
Mbappe's Stellar Performance Leads France to Victory
In Boston on July 10, France's captain Kylian Mbappe showcased his extraordinary talent during the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Morocco, scoring the first goal of the match. Ousmane Dembele followed up with a second goal, securing France's place in the semi-finals.
This goal marked a significant achievement for Mbappe, bringing his total to 20 goals in World Cup history, spanning the tournaments in 2018, 2022, and 2026. He is now just one goal shy of Lionel Messi's record of 21 all-time World Cup goals.
With this being his eighth goal in the current tournament, Mbappe has now tied with Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
Additionally, he made history by becoming the first French player to be involved in 100 international goals, with a record of 64 goals and 36 assists for the national team.
France's journey to the semi-finals marks their third consecutive appearance at this stage. They dominated the match, creating more chances before halftime, although Mbappe missed a penalty that could have given them an earlier lead.
The breakthrough came in the 60th minute when Mbappe skillfully curled the ball into the net after receiving a clever assist from Desire Doue, putting France ahead.
This victory concludes Morocco's remarkable World Cup journey, while France moves closer to claiming the title, setting up a semi-final match against either Spain or Belgium.