Mbappe equals Messi’s non-penalty World Cup goal record
Mbappe’s Historic Performance Against Morocco
Kylian Mbappe continued his impressive run at the 2026 World Cup, achieving a significant milestone during France‘s quarter-final match against Morocco. In a game that saw France secure a 2-0 victory, Mbappe scored in the 60th minute, bringing his career total for non-penalty goals in the World Cup to 17. This achievement places him alongside Lionel Messi for the most non-penalty goals in the tournament’s history.
The goal against Morocco also marked Mbappe’s 20th overall World Cup goal in an equal number of appearances. He is only the second player to reach this milestone, with Messi being the other. This performance further solidifies Mbappe’s standing as one of the most prolific scorers in the tournament’s history, building on his appearances in the 2018, 2022, and 2026 editions.
Beyond his scoring, Mbappe also contributed a third assist of the tournament, setting up Ousmane Dembele for France’s second goal. This assist helped seal a deserved victory for France, propelling them towards a third successive final. The match was played at Boston Stadium on Tuesday.
France Overcomes Moroccan Resistance
France’s encounter with Morocco was a rematch of the 2022 semi-finals, where France also defeated Morocco 2-0. Despite the familiar scoreline, the Moroccan team, led by coach Mohamed Ouahbi, initially presented a strong defensive challenge. Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, delivered a notable performance, making several key saves throughout the match.
Bounou’s defiance was evident early on, as he repelled Mbappe’s 20-yard shot and Dayot Upamecano‘s close-range header. He also made a superb save to tip Lucas Digne‘s swerving shot onto the bar just before half-time. His reputation as a penalty specialist was also highlighted when he saved Mbappe’s spot-kick after Noussair Mazraoui tripped Mbappe in the box.
The penalty decision involved a lengthy VAR check, lasting three minutes and 12 seconds, which seemed to fluster Mbappe. His subsequent penalty was a tame sidefoot, easily held by Bounou. However, Mbappe eventually broke through Morocco’s defense with a curled shot from the edge of the box, despite complaints from Morocco about a potential handball by Adrien Rabiot in the build-up.
Morocco, who were Africa‘s first semi-finalists in 2022, are now its first back-to-back quarter-finalists. In this match, they adopted a different approach compared to their previous games against Brazil and the Netherlands, focusing on congesting the midfield to crowd out Michael Olise. This strategy, however, led to a negative approach, with France having 13 shots before Morocco registered their first. By the hour mark, Morocco’s xG was just 0.06.
Mbappe’s Continued Impact and France’s Path Forward
Mbappe’s influence on the game extended beyond his goal and assist. He demonstrated his ability to draw fouls, with one attempt to halt him resulting in a penalty and another leading to a booking for Issa Diop. Despite briefly appearing to be substituted due to an ice pack on his right foot, Mbappe was seen celebrating after the final whistle, suggesting it was a precautionary measure rather than a serious injury concern.
The France captain’s performance in this tournament has drawn comparisons to Messi, with both players vying for individual accolades such as the Golden Ball and Golden Boot, in addition to the World Cup itself. Mbappe now has 12 knockout stage goals at the World Cup, extending his record for the most by any player.
With this victory, France will advance to a semi-final match against the winner of the game between Spain and Belgium. This semi-final is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 14, at Dallas Stadium, with a spot in the World Cup final at stake. France’s consistent performance, spearheaded by Mbappe, indicates their strong intent to make a significant mark in World Cup history.
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Source: independent.co.uk
