Kylian Mbappé has achieved a rare feat in the FIFA World Cup, joining Lionel Messi in an exclusive club of players. This accomplishment came during France’s 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarterfinals, where Mbappé delivered an all-round performance.
During the match, Mbappé missed a penalty in the first half but later scored a goal and provided an assist. This performance secured France’s place in the semifinals, where they are set to play against either Spain or Belgium.
A rare World Cup milestone
Mbappé’s display against Morocco marked only the fourth occasion in the last 60 years that a player has scored, assisted, and missed a penalty in a single World Cup match. Two of these instances have occurred recently, with Messi achieving it against Egypt and Mbappé against Morocco.
The first player to accomplish this rare feat was Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan against the Czech Republic at the 2006 World Cup. Following him, Karim Benzema became the second player to do so during France’s 5-2 win over Switzerland in the 2014 World Cup.
Mbappé, who is 27 years old, has been a key player for France throughout the tournament. He entered the match against Morocco with seven goals in five games in the 2026 World Cup. His performance in the quarterfinals further highlighted his impact on the team.
The match saw Mbappé initially winning a foul inside the penalty area in the 25th minute after being brought down by Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui. However, his penalty attempt was saved by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after a lengthy VAR review.
Despite the penalty miss, Mbappé quickly made amends. In the 60th minute, he scored his eighth goal of the 2026 World Cup, which also marked his 20th career World Cup goal. Just six minutes later, he assisted Ousmane Dembele, whose finish doubled France’s lead.
Mbappé’s growing World Cup record
This latest performance added to Mbappé’s impressive World Cup record. It was the third time he had both scored and assisted in the same World Cup match. Only Messi, with five such games, has achieved this more frequently in the past 60 years.
Mbappé also became the first player since 1966 to register 10 or more goal contributions in two different World Cups. He had 10 goal contributions in the 2022 World Cup and currently has 11 in the 2026 edition.
His 20th World Cup goal places him within one strike of Messi’s total of 21 World Cup goals. Mbappé currently plays for Real Madrid when not representing the French national team.
The victory against Morocco sent France into the World Cup semifinals for the third consecutive tournament, following their appearances in 2018 and 2022. This achievement makes France only the third nation to reach three consecutive semifinals, alongside Germany and Brazil.
This marks France’s eighth World Cup semifinal appearance, putting them level with Brazil for the second-most in tournament history. Only Germany has more, with 12 semifinal appearances. France will now aim to continue their title defense in the upcoming semifinal match.
Mbappé’s journey in the World Cup has been marked by consistent high-level performances. He has been a central figure in France’s campaigns, demonstrating his ability to influence games with both goals and assists. His presence on the field often dictates the pace and direction of France’s attacks.
The 27-year-old forward has shown a remarkable ability to recover from setbacks, as evidenced by his response to the missed penalty against Morocco. His resilience and skill have been crucial for France’s progression in the tournament.
France’s path to the semifinals has included victories against Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0), Norway (4-1), Sweden (3-0), and Paraguay (1-0) in the earlier stages of the 2026 World Cup.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
