Mbappé Scores in Quarterfinal Win to Tie Messi for World Cup Lead

France captain Kylian Mbappé kept his nation’s World Cup hopes alive while tightening the race for the tournament’s top individual honor. The Real Madrid striker scored the decisive goal in France’s 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarterfinals on Thursday, July 9, at Boston Stadium.

The performance moved Mbappé into a tie with Lionel Messi for the tournament lead in goals. Messi entered the quarterfinal round with eight goals, having scored in every match for Argentina. Mbappé notched his eighth in the 60th minute against Morocco and added an assist, giving him a statistical advantage in playmaking with three assists compared to Messi’s one. The French star now has 20 career World Cup goals.

The match featured a dramatic moment in the 28th minute when Mbappé earned a penalty kick following a VAR review. However, after a lengthy delay, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved the attempt. Mbappé redeemed himself later with the go-ahead goal, securing France’s advancement to the semifinals.

France will next face the winner of the Spain and Belgium matchup on July 13 in Los Angeles. The tournament has seen strong viewership and engagement, benefitting broadcasters like Fox Corporation, which operates extensive sports programming segments. Fox Corporation, currently trading with a market capitalization of approximately $23.46 billion, is a key player in sports media coverage.

While Mbappé and Messi are currently deadlocked at 8 goals, the Golden Boot race remains crowded. Norway’s Erling Haaland sits at 7 goals, and England’s Harry Kane has 6. Mbappé is seeking his second Golden Boot; he previously won the award in 2022 with eight goals, though France fell to Argentina in the final that year.

Teammate Ousman Dembélé praised Mbappé’s influence, noting the joy of playing with the captain, while manager Didier Deschamps highlighted him as a role model both on and off the pitch.

What to watch

• France’s semifinal matchup on July 13 in Los Angeles.
• Goal totals from Messi, Haaland, and Kane in their upcoming fixtures.
• Fox Corporation’s quarterly financial results for updates on sports segment revenue.

Source: original release