World Cup: Mbappe scores winner, eases ankle concerns after France beats Morocco

Kylian Mbappe scored the decisive goal as France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup quarterfinals on July 10, 2026. The star forward was substituted in the 77th minute after an ankle knock, sparking concern among fans. However, Mbappe reassured reporters after the match that his ankle was not seriously injured.

"I'm fine, just got kicked on the ankle, but everything is fine," Mbappe said. "I think in the last 15 minutes, Mateta was in better shape to be on the field than me." He added that his teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta was a suitable replacement.

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I'm fine, just got kicked on the ankle, but everything is fine. I think in the last 15 minutes, Mateta was in better shape to be on the field than me.

Mbappe's goal was his eighth in the current World Cup and his 20th overall in the tournament. He had missed a penalty in the first half but redeemed himself in the 60th minute with a curling shot into the far corner. France now moves on to the semifinals, where they will face either Spain or Belgium.

"We still have a long way to go," Mbappe stated regarding the team's pursuit of the championship. "We are very aware of the challenges ahead, which will be tougher than anything we have faced so far. But we are ready for any challenge. We will recover well and then see tomorrow's match between Spain and Belgium to know who we will face in the semifinals."

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We still have a long way to go. We are very aware of the challenges ahead, which will be tougher than anything we have faced so far. But we are ready for any challenge. We will recover well and then see tomorrow's match between Spain and Belgium to know who we will face in the semifinals.