{"id":364142,"date":"2026-07-10T17:15:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T11:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=364142"},"modified":"2026-07-10T17:15:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T11:45:40","slug":"mbappe-scores-eighth-world-cup-goal-exits-with-slight-ankle-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/10\/mbappe-scores-eighth-world-cup-goal-exits-with-slight-ankle-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Mbapp\u00e9 scores eighth World Cup goal, exits with slight ankle injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

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France\u2019s Kylian Mbappe (10) reacts to being tripped through the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo\/Stephanie Scarbrough)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts \u2014 Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 shook off a missed penalty kick to attain his eighth goal of this 12 months\u2019s World Cup, helping France beat Morocco 2-0 and reach the semifinals for the third time in a row.<\/p>\n

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. Mbapp\u00e9 said the injury was minor, and he showed no ailing effects while celebrating together with his team after the whistle.<\/p>\n

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READ: Mbappe strikes anew as France beats Morocco to succeed in World Cup semifinals<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI took a knock to the ankle, but I\u2019m superb,\u201d said Mbapp\u00e9, who was replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta. \u201cAt that time, JP was in higher shape than I used to be to play the ultimate minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reigning Golden Boot winner and only the second teenager \u2014 after Pele \u2014 ever to attain in a World Cup final, Mbapp\u00e9 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.<\/p>\n

Mbapp\u00e9 also assisted on Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9\u2019s 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 Mbapp\u00e9.<\/p>\n

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France\u2019s 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)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s just one approach to loosen up, and that\u2019s by winning,\u201d Mbapp\u00e9 said. \u201cUntil we\u2019ve done that, we don\u2019t let up. We\u2019re within the semifinals and we\u2019re very blissful, but there\u2019s still a protracted approach to go. We realize that what lies ahead is even tougher than what we\u2019ve been through, but we\u2019re able to face anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if this was his strongest France team yet, Mbapp\u00e9 said it has probably the most potential \u2014 \u201cin the interim.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I at all times say that the strongest teams are those that win,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t see a World Cup next to me, so for now, we\u2019re not the strongest team.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Mbapp\u00e9 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.<\/p>\n

After the training staff checked on him, Mbapp\u00e9 was subbed off \u2014 waving to the Gillette Stadium crowd as he left \u2014 and watched the tip of the match from the bench with an ice pack on his right ankle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a slight pain within the ankle,\u201d France coach Didier Deschamps said. \u201cNothing serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mbapp\u00e9 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.<\/p>\n

Mbapp\u00e9 said the long delay while the play was being reviewed left him wondering if he could be attempting the shot in any respect.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s complicated, because there\u2019s some sort of imbroglio,\u201d he said. \u201cI let myself be de-concentrated. That\u2019s a scenario I hadn\u2019t experienced yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Mbapp\u00e9 delivered within the second half when he dribbled into the world and let out a rocket that went just contained in the post.<\/p>\n

Messi also has scored eight goals on the tournament and Norway forward Erling Haaland has seven heading into their quarterfinal matches on Saturday. (Mbapp\u00e9 technically holds the Golden Boot lead because he has more assists, which is the tiebreaker.)<\/p>\n

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Mbapp\u00e9\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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France\u2019s Kylian Mbappe (10) reacts to being tripped through the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo\/Stephanie Scarbrough) FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts \u2014 Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 shook off a missed penalty kick to attain his eighth goal of this 12 months\u2019s World Cup, helping France […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":364143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20686],"tags":[8700,4313,1060,4303,6348,667,8639,1158,15693,813],"class_list":["post-364142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football","tag-8th","tag-ankle","tag-cup","tag-exits","tag-goal","tag-injury","tag-mbappe","tag-scores","tag-slight","tag-world"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t