“I’m All Good”- Kylian Mbappé Provides Injury Update After France’s FIFA World Cup Semifinal Berth
Kylian Mbappé eased injury fears after hurting his ankle against Morocco, confirming he is set to go as France secured a World Cup semifinal place.
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Kylian Mbappé (Image: Britannica)
Kylian Mbappé has downplayed concerns about his fitness after picking up an ankle knock during France’s 2-0 victory over Morocco in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals on Thursday at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The France captain received treatment on the pitch during the second half before being substituted in the 77th minute for Jean Philippe Mateta. Television cameras later showed Mbappé on the bench with ice strapped to his right foot, prompting concern ahead of France’s semifinal.
Despite the injury scare, Mbappé celebrated with supporters on the field after the final whistle and later joined his teammates in the dressing room. A source told ESPN there were no concerns over the 27-year-old’s ankle.
After the match, Mbappé addressed both his injury and the emotions of facing Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, his close friend and former Paris Saint-Germain teammate.
I’m all good. I got a knock on the ankle, but it’s all good. JP (Mateta) was more able than me to play the last 15 minutes. Here, there is no sentiment. There are no emotions. I’m here to win, and he [Hakimi] was here to win too. But it’s true that when I will go to see him in the dressing room, it will hit me, because he is a very close friend.
Kylian Mbappe via ESPN
France sealed its place in the last four with Mbappé opening the scoring in the 60th minute before setting up Ousmane Dembélé six minutes later for France’s second goal. The win sent Didier Deschamps’ side into a semifinal against either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas.
Kylian Mbappé rebounds from penalty miss to reach a milestone of 20 World Cup appearances
Kylian Mbappé’s night began with an unusual setback before ending with another record-breaking performance.
The forward saw his first-half penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after a lengthy VAR review confirmed the foul that led to the spot kick. The miss ended Mbappé’s streak of 15 consecutive successful penalties for France and marked his first penalty miss at a World Cup.
He responded after halftime with a curling finish from the edge of the area for his eighth goal of the tournament before providing his third assist of the competition for Dembélé’s strike six minutes later.
The quarterfinal also marked Mbappé’s 20th FIFA World Cup appearance, making him the youngest player to reach that milestone. He now has 20 goals in 20 World Cup matches across the 2018, 2022 and 2026 tournaments, moving within one goal of Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup record of 21.
Mbappé has also become the first player since 1966 to record at least 10 goal involvements in two different World Cups. After finishing the 2022 tournament with eight goals and two assists, he has produced eight goals and three assists at the 2026 edition.
His 11 goal involvements are the most by a player at a single World Cup since Gerd Müller recorded 13 in 1970, as France advanced to its third consecutive World Cup semifinal.
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