Mbappé Ties Messi, Dismisses Injury Concerns in World Cup

Mbappé ties Messi, dismisses injury concerns after France’s 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Kylian Mbappé, 28 and of Real Madrid, played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and scored his eighth World Cup goal to level Lionel Messi for the tournament lead. The main worry came after he injured the right ankle area in the 32nd minute of the second half, received treatment briefly, and was substituted by Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 32nd minute. Mbappé later said he was fine and attributed any impact to a slight problem, adding that Mateta could have played better in the final 15 minutes; an ESPN-cited French national team source also said there was no issue. Despite missing a penalty in the first half, he scored in the second half and assisted Usman Dembélé, finishing the match with 8 goals and 3 assists at the tournament. France advances to face the winner of the Spain-Belgium semifinal, with Mbappé stating they aim to win the championship.