Kylian Mbappe has continued to set new records at the World Cup, with his recent performances for France in their 2-0 quarter-final victory against Morocco in Boston highlighting his impact. Despite missing an early penalty, Mbappe’s second-half goal brought him level with Lionel Messi for the most non-penalty goals in the tournament.
The 27-year-old forward has either broken or equalled several records during this World Cup. His goal against Senegal in France’s tournament opener made him France’s all-time top goal scorer, surpassing Olivier Giroud. Mbappe now has 64 goals for the French national side, while Giroud has 57. Thierry Henry is third with 51 goals, and Antoine Griezmann is fourth with 44 goals.
Mbappe also holds the record for the most World Cup goals for France. His strike against Senegal marked his 14th World Cup goal, exceeding Just Fontaine’s record of 13 goals, all achieved in the 1958 World Cup. He has since added more goals, extending his lead in this category.
Golden Boot Race and Historic Contributions
In the race for the Golden Boot, Mbappe and Messi are currently level on eight goals. However, Mbappe leads due to FIFA’s tie-breaking rules, which prioritize assists. Mbappe has registered eight goals and three assists, totaling 11 direct goal contributions, while Messi has eight goals and one assist, resulting in nine goal contributions. If the tournament concluded with both players tied on goals, Mbappe would receive the Golden Boot due to his higher assist tally.
Mbappe’s goal against Morocco also moved him to 20 overall goals at the World Cup, placing him one goal behind Messi on the all-time list. Furthermore, his first goal against Sweden established him as the leading goal scorer in World Cup knockout matches, surpassing Brazilian players Leonidas and Ronaldo. He has since scored again against Sweden, and added goals against Paraguay and Morocco, bringing his total to 12 World Cup knockout goals.
Another significant achievement for Mbappe was his assist for Ousmane Dembele’s goal against Morocco. This made him the first player to record 11 direct goal contributions in two different World Cups. He achieved double figures at the Qatar World Cup 2022 with eight goals and two assists, and has now improved upon those figures in the current tournament. He is the first player since records began in 1966 to achieve 10 or more goal contributions in two separate tournaments.
World Cup Appearances and Continued Impact
Mbappe is also now the joint record holder for the most appearances for France in World Cup finals, matching Hugo Lloris with 20 appearances. He is the youngest player to reach this milestone. With upcoming matches, he is in a position to potentially surpass this record.
The competition between Mbappe and Messi has been a prominent storyline of the tournament. Both players have demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure, with Mbappe operating with notable composure throughout the knockout stages. While Messi’s journey has been described as navigating chaos, France’s path has appeared more serene, with a strong supporting cast around Mbappe, including players like Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise.
Despite missing a penalty against Morocco, Mbappe quickly recovered, scoring a crucial goal. This marked his 20th World Cup goal, a notable achievement given his appearances in fewer editions of the tournament compared to Messi. His contributions continue to shape France’s performance in the World Cup.
The Golden Boot race remains open, with other contenders such as Erling Haaland of Norway and Harry Kane of England still in contention. Mbappe’s 11 goal involvements (eight goals, three assists) in this tournament are the highest by a player in a single World Cup since Gerd Muller recorded 13 in 1970.
Mbappe’s latest goal also brought him to 14 career World Cup knockout-stage goal contributions, drawing him level with Messi for the most by any player in the modern era over the past six decades. The tournament continues to unfold with both players making significant historical marks.
The French captain’s performance against Morocco, including his goal, was part of France’s 2-0 victory, which secured their progression to the semi-finals.
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Source: aljazeera.com
