07/09/26 08:05:00
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07/09 20:03 CDT Kylian Mbapp scores his 8th World Cup goal before leaving game
with a 'slight' ankle injury
Kylian Mbapp scores his 8th World Cup goal before leaving game with a 'slight'
ankle injury
By JIMMY GOLEN
Associated Press
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) --- Kylian Mbapp shook off a missed penalty kick to
score his eighth goal of this year's World Cup, helping France beat Morocco 2-0
and reach the semifinals for the third time in a row.
Now Les Bleus have to hope he can overcome an injury that had him summoning for
help and leaving the game in the 77th minute. Mbapp said the injury was minor,
and he showed no ill effects while celebrating with his team after the whistle.
"I took a knock to the ankle, but I'm fine," said Mbapp, who was replaced by
Jean-Philippe Mateta. "At that point, JP was in better shape than I was to play
the final minutes."
The reigning Golden Boot winner and only the second teenager --- after Pele ---
ever to score in a World Cup final, Mbapp made up for his miss on a first-half
penalty by scoring in the 60th minute. It was his 20th goal in 20 World Cup
games and his eighth in 2026, equaling Argentina captain Lionel Messi for the
tournament lead.
Mbapp also assisted on Ousmane Dembl's goal six minutes later to help the
two-time champions reach the semifinals, where they will play either Spain or
Belgium. France has never failed to make a World Cup final in two previous
tournaments with Mbapp.
"There's only one way to relax, and that's by winning," Mbapp said. "Until
we've done that, we don't let up. We're in the semifinals and we're very happy,
but there's still a long way to go. We realize that what lies ahead is even
tougher than what we've been through, but we're ready to face anything."
Asked if this was his strongest France team yet, Mbapp said it has the most
potential --- "for the time being."
"But I always say that the strongest teams are the ones that win," he said. "I
don't see a World Cup next to me, so for now, we're not the strongest team."
Mbapp gave France fans a scare when he went to the field in pain after he was
stepped on by Morocco defender Issa Diop in the 63rd minute. He remained in the
game until the 76th minute, when he dropped to the turf and waved to the
sideline.
After the training staff checked on him, Mbapp was subbed off --- waving to
the Gillette Stadium crowd as he left --- and watched the end of the match from
the bench with an ice pack on his right ankle.
"It's a slight pain in the ankle," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "Nothing
serious."
Mbapp had a chance from the penalty spot in the first half after drawing a
foul from Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui in the box in the 28th minute. But
goalkeeper Yassine Bounou guessed correctly, diving to his left to stop the
attempt.
Mbapp said the long delay while the play was being reviewed left him wondering
if he would be attempting the shot at all.
"It's complicated, because there's some kind of imbroglio," he said. "I let
myself be de-concentrated. That's a scenario I hadn't experienced yet."
But Mbapp delivered in the second half when he dribbled into the area and let
loose a rocket that went just inside the post.
Messi also has scored eight goals at the tournament and Norway forward Erling
Haaland has seven heading into their quarterfinal matches on Saturday. (Mbapp
technically holds the Golden Boot lead because he has more assists, which is
the tiebreaker.)
Mbapp's 20th goal put him one behind Messi on the all-time World Cup scoring
list. Messi has 21 goals in 31 career World Cup matches over six tournaments,
breaking the record of 16 that had been held by Germany striker Miroslav Klose.
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