Mbappé scores eighth World Cup goal, exits with slight ankle injury

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts — Kylian Mbappé shook off a missed penalty kick to attain his eighth goal of this 12 months’s World Cup, helping France beat Morocco 2-0 and reach the semifinals for the third time in a row.

Now Les Bleus need to hope he can overcome an injury that had him summoning for help and leaving the sport within the 77th minute. Mbappé said the injury was minor, and he showed no ailing effects while celebrating together with his team after the whistle.

READ: Mbappe strikes anew as France beats Morocco to succeed in World Cup semifinals

“I took a knock to the ankle, but I’m superb,” said Mbappé, who was replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta. “At that time, JP was in higher shape than I used to be to play the ultimate minutes.”

The reigning Golden Boot winner and only the second teenager — after Pele — ever to attain in a World Cup final, Mbappé made up for his miss on a first-half penalty by scoring within the sixtieth minute. It was his twentieth goal in 20 World Cup games and his eighth in 2026, equaling Argentina captain Lionel Messi for the tournament lead.

Mbappé also assisted on Ousmane Dembélé’s goal six minutes later to assist the two-time champions reach the semifinals, where they may play either Spain or Belgium. France has never did not make a World Cup final in two previous tournaments with Mbappé.

France’s Kylian Mbappe (10), right, celebrates scoring the opening goal through the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

“There’s just one approach to loosen up, and that’s by winning,” Mbappé said. “Until we’ve done that, we don’t let up. We’re within the semifinals and we’re very blissful, but there’s still a protracted approach to go. We realize that what lies ahead is even tougher than what we’ve been through, but we’re able to face anything.”

Asked if this was his strongest France team yet, Mbappé said it has probably the most potential — “in the interim.”

“But I at all times say that the strongest teams are those that win,” he said. “I don’t see a World Cup next to me, so for now, we’re not the strongest team.”

Mbappé gave France fans a scare when he went to the sector in pain after he was stepped on by Morocco defender Issa Diop within the 63rd minute. He remained in the sport until the 76th minute, when he dropped to the turf and waved to the sideline.

After the training staff checked on him, Mbappé was subbed off — waving to the Gillette Stadium crowd as he left — and watched the tip of the match from the bench with an ice pack on his right ankle.

“It’s a slight pain within the ankle,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “Nothing serious.”

Mbappé had a likelihood from the penalty spot in the primary half after drawing a foul from Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui within the box within the twenty eighth minute. But goalkeeper Yassine Bounou guessed appropriately, diving to his left to stop the attempt.

Mbappé said the long delay while the play was being reviewed left him wondering if he could be attempting the shot in any respect.

“It’s complicated, because there’s some sort of imbroglio,” he said. “I let myself be de-concentrated. That’s a scenario I hadn’t experienced yet.”

But Mbappé delivered within the second half when he dribbled into the world and let out a rocket that went just contained in the post.

Messi also has scored eight goals on the tournament and Norway forward Erling Haaland has seven heading into their quarterfinal matches on Saturday. (Mbappé technically holds the Golden Boot lead because he has more assists, which is the tiebreaker.)

Mbappé’s twentieth goal put him one behind Messi on the all-time World Cup scoring list. Messi has 21 goals in 31 profession World Cup matches over six tournaments, breaking the record of 16 that had been held by Germany striker Miroslav Klose.