Mbappé Penalty Sends France Past Paraguay, Sets Up Morocco Clash
Golden Boot Race Heats Up as Mbappé Matches Messi
Kylian Mbappé’s remarkable scoring streak continued as France edged Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
The French captain converted a 69th‑minute penalty to secure his team’s place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Morocco in Boston on July 9.
Mbappé’s strike was his seventh of the tournament, drawing him level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race while surpassing his own record for knockout-stage goals.
He now has 11 in World Cup knockouts, the most in history, and sits just one behind Messi’s all-time tally of 20.
Paraguay, who stunned Germany on penalties to reach this stage, frustrated France in the first half with disciplined defending.
Goalkeeper Orlando Gill, later named Player of the Match, kept Les Bleus at bay with a series of saves, including a full-stretch stop from Manu Koné.
The breakthrough came after Desire Doué was fouled in the box, confirmed by VAR.
Mbappé calmly dispatched the spot-kick, sending Gill the wrong way and ensuring France’s progression.
Morocco, fresh from eliminating co-hosts Canada, now await France in what promises to be a high-intensity quarter-final clash.
