FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Kylian Mbappé is in lockstep with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. world cup.
Mbappe made up for missing a penalty in the first half against France Won against Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals On Thursday, they scored a goal in the 60th minute to win the game. This was his eighth goal of the tournament, making him tied for first place with Messi and one point ahead of Norway’s Erling Haaland.
Norway will play England in the quarter-finals on Saturday, and Messi will lead Argentina against Switzerland later that evening.
Mbappe had a chance in the 28th minute when he drew a foul from Moroccan defender Nousser Mazraoui inside the box and won a penalty. However, goalkeeper Yassin Bounou guessed correctly and dove to his left, stopping the attempt.
The Real Madrid forward dribbled into the area in the second half and fired a rocket that went just inside the post, contributing to the two-time World Cup winner.
Ousmane Dembele scored six minutes later to give France a 2-0 lead. Mbappe was sent off in the 77th minute, and as he left the field as a substitute, he turned to the Gillette Stadium crowd and waved with both hands.
Mbappe also scored 20 goals in 20 games, moving him one place behind Messi on the World Cup all-time goalscoring list. Messi scored 21 goals in 31 games in six World Cups, breaking the previous record of 16 goals held by German striker Miroslav Klose.
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