Kylian Mbappé added to his World Cup legacy by scoring his eighth goal of the tournament and 20th of his career in France's 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Morocco on Thursday. The goal, his 20th in his 20th career World Cup contest, ties him with Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot lead and proved to be the decisive moment in the match.
France has advanced to the semifinals, maintaining Mbappé's record of never being eliminated from a World Cup before the final. The team conceded only one shot on goal against Morocco, despite facing a strong defensive effort from the Atlas Lions.
"We know there’s only one way to relax... And that’s to win," Mbappé told French broadcaster M6 after the match. "We’re in the semifinals, we’re very happy, but there’s still a long way to go. We know what lies ahead is even tougher than what we’ve already been through, but we’re ready to face anything."
Mbappé, who was part of France's 2018 World Cup-winning squad as a younger player, appears to be at the peak of his career. France coach Didier Deschamps noted Mbappé's importance on and off the pitch, stating, "Kylian is a captain. He’s great whether he’s on or off the pitch. He’s a role model."
Despite a brief scare when Mbappé was substituted in the 78th minute due to an ankle issue, he later stated he was "fine" and had only taken a knock. Earlier in the match, Mbappé had a penalty attempt saved by Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. France's attack struggled against Morocco's defensive setup for much of the game, but Mbappé's individual brilliance ultimately broke the deadlock.
"There are no dictators thinking about themselves," Deschamps said regarding his team's strategy. "Kylian is a captain. He’s great whether he’s on or off the pitch. He’s a role model."