The headlines in Boston surrounded Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé as he took his World Cup 2026 goal tally to eight goals as he scored France’s first goal in a 2-0 against Morocco just before the hour mark in a hard fought quarter-final with limited chances for either side.
The French captain had enjoyed the best chance for his side as he stepped up to take a spot-kick win by the number 10 in the first half. Mbappé went down early after a diving challenge from Manchester United’s Noussair Mazrsoui. A three-and-a-half minute VAR review followed, with Mbappé made to wait before stepping up.
His penalty was then saved by Yassine Bounou, previously of Atlético Madrid and Sevilla, diving down low to his left. It was Mbappé’s first penalty miss since October’s Clásico and his first for his country since June 2023.
He made amends 30 minutes later as he broke the deadlock with a curling effort from the edge of the box leaving Bounou with no chance as it hit the side netting and gave France the lead.
Mbappé turned provider minutes later as he teed up Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé to add a second for Les Bleus, again from outside the penalty box, before the second period’s hydration break.