Mbappé Nears Messi’s WC Record as France Beat Morocco 2-0
Last Updated July 10, 2026
Reading time: 7 minutes
One goal. That’s all that now separates Kylian from the most goals ever scored at a men’s World Cup. His curling finish in France’s 2-0 win over Morocco on Thursday, 9 July was his 20th at the tournament across his career, leaving him a single strike behind Lionel Messi’s 21. FRA, meanwhile, are into a third straight semi-final, and Mbappé gave them the win after first missing a penalty. Next: Spain or Belgium in the last four.
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Mbappé is one goal from the all-time World Cup record
Kylian’s opener against Morocco was his 20th career World Cup goal, moving him to within one of Messi’s all-time men’s record of 21. Both players have already overtaken Miroslav Klose, who held the mark at 16 from 2014.
What sets Mbappé’s tally apart is how quickly it has piled up. Twenty goals in twenty World Cup matches, spread over just three tournaments: four as a teenager in 2018, eight in Qatar in 2022, and eight more in North America this summer. Messi’s 21 have taken six World Cups to assemble. Ronaldo sits well back on 15, Gerd Müller on 14, Just Fontaine on 13.
The Golden Boot for this tournament is a straight fight between the two. They’re level on eight goals each, but Kylian leads the race on assists, three to Messi’s one, which nudged him back to the top of the chart after the Argentine had drawn level.
Asked last month to name the best player at this World Cup, Mbappé didn’t dodge it. With his own name on the shortlist alongside Messi, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, he answered on 22 June: “Lionel Messi. It’s clear.” The man he’s chasing is the one he rates first.
| All-time men’s World Cup top scorers (after 9 July) | Goals |
| Lionel Messi (Argentina) | 21 |
| Kylian Mbappé (France) | 20 |
| Miroslav Klose (Germany) | 16 |
| Ronaldo (Brazil) | 15 |
| Gerd Müller (Germany) | 14 |
| Just Fontaine (France) | 13 |
France 2-0 Morocco: how the quarter-final unfolded
France controlled the tie at Gillette Stadium from the start and won it in a six-minute burst after the hour. Mbappé scored on 60 minutes and set up Ousmane Dembélé on 66.
Before that, the story was Yassine Bounou. Morocco’s keeper had already saved from Kylian and would go on to make six stops in all, but the big one came on 27 minutes. VAR handed France a penalty for a Noussair Mazraoui foul on Mbappé, and after a delay Opta timed at three minutes and eleven seconds, the captain’s tame, stutter-stepped effort was saved. Haaland, watching from Norway’s camp, called the wait “way too long” on Snapchat.
The breakthrough was worth waiting for. Désiré Doué, France’s best player on the night, flicked Mbappé in and the captain bent a right-footed finish beyond Bounou. Dembélé, this year’s Ballon d’Or winner, made it safe soon after, driving out of midfield and steering a low shot into the corner. Morocco’s only real chance came late and troubled Mike Maignan not at all.
The 0.14 xG that told the real story
FRA finished with 3.05 expected goals to Morocco’s 0.14. The saved penalty dressed it up as a contest, but the numbers describe a rout that stayed 2-0 only because of Bounou.
A figure of 0.14 xG across a full match is close to zero. Morocco, without injured striker Ismael Saibari and playing a false nine with Brahim Díaz up top, could not lay a glove on Saliba and Upamecano. France created three big chances in the first half alone and were good value for more than the two they took.
| France 2-0 Morocco — the numbers | |
| Score | France 2, Morocco 0 |
| Scorers | Mbappé 60′, Dembélé 66′ |
| Expected goals | France 3.05, Morocco 0.14 |
| Bounou saves | 6 |
| Penalty | Mbappé missed, saved by Bounou |
| France’s record | Six games, six wins, no extra time |
[GRAPHIC: xG comparison bar — designer]
The ankle scare and what it means for the semi-final
Mbappé went off late with a knock to his right ankle and iced it on the bench, but the early signs point to caution rather than a real injury. He walked off, waved to the crowd and joined the post-match celebrations, and ESPN read that as making him highly unlikely to miss the semi-final.
Be straight about the uncertainty, though. France haven’t put a timeline on it, nobody outside the camp has confirmed the severity, and a swollen ankle four days before a semi-final is worth watching. If you’re pricing a France bet or a Mbappé anytime-scorer or Golden Boot punt, his fitness is the single live variable that should make you wait for confirmed team news rather than jumping in early.
France’s semi-final: Spain or Belgium in Arlington
France will play the winner of Friday’s Spain vs Belgium quarter-final in the semi-final on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. On form they’re one of the favourites to lift the trophy, and Kylian’s record chase runs straight through the last four.
They’re the only team still perfect, six wins from six with no extra time, and into a fourth straight World Cup knockout stage. The caveat for backers: Spain, if they advance, are the reigning European champions, and France’s defence has barely been examined since the group stage. That 0.14 xG reflects Morocco’s limitations more than any proof France can shut down a possession side.
History rhymes here. France beat Morocco 2-0 in the 2022 semi-final in Qatar before reaching the final. Do it again on Tuesday and they’re ninety minutes from a third straight final, with Mbappé likely needing one or two more goals to take Messi’s record outright.
Have a bet on it if you like, but set a limit before kick-off and stick to it. The value sits in comparing prices and waiting on the Mbappé news, not in backing a short-priced favourite on trust. Keep it fun and within your means, and walk away if it stops being either. Support in Ireland is at gamblingcare.ie.
FAQ
How many World Cup goals does Mbappé have? Twenty across three tournaments (2018, 2022, 2026). That puts him second on the all-time men’s list, one behind Lionel Messi’s 21.
Can Mbappé break the World Cup goals record this tournament? He needs at least one more to draw level with Messi and two to move clear, so France reaching the final would give him the best chance. Messi and Argentina are still in the draw too, so the record is live on both sides.
Who is winning the 2026 Golden Boot race? Mbappé and Messi are level on eight goals, but Mbappé leads on the assist tiebreaker (three to one).
What was the score in France vs Morocco? France won 2-0 in the quarter-final at Gillette Stadium on 9 July, with Mbappé and Dembélé scoring.
Is Mbappé fit for the semi-final? He took an ankle knock but joined the celebrations and is expected to be available. France haven’t confirmed a timeline, so check nearer kick-off.
Who do FRA play next, and when? The winner of Spain vs Belgium, on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.
Tom Donachie is a journalist with over two decades of experience in analysis and high-stakes reporting. His work spans financial investigations, industry profiles, and in-depth commentary, earning him multiple nominations for national and international journalism awards.
A specialist in sport, Tom has covered major global tournaments, bringing insight that goes beyond the scoreline — exploring the human stories and business forces shaping modern athletics. He now brings that same analytical rigour to the Irish Brokers Association.
