Mbappe suffered an injury after leading France to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe shone with the opening goal in the 2-0 victory over Morocco, but his early departure from the field with an ice pack on his leg is causing concern within the French team ahead of the semi-final.
The French national team officially secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup after a convincing 2-0 victory over Morocco. However, the joy of "Les Bleus" was not entirely complete as their star player Kylian Mbappe had to leave the field in poor condition, raising concerns about his availability for the next match.
The captain's redemption and historical milestones.
The quarter-final match started turbulently for Mbappe personally when he missed a penalty in the first half. However, the composure of a superstar was demonstrated at the right moment. In the second half, the 27-year-old striker scored with a delicate finish to open the scoring, relieving the suffocating pressure on the defending runners-up.
This goal not only broke the deadlock but also helped Mbappe set incredibly impressive statistics. It was his eighth goal of this year's World Cup. Even more remarkably, Mbappe officially reached the milestone of 20 goals after three appearances at the biggest football tournament on the planet – a phenomenal goal-scoring record at the international level. Immediately afterwards, Ousmane Dembele doubled the lead, sealing a 2-0 victory for Didier Deschamps's team.
A moment that left French fans holding their breath.
With the semi-final ticket almost certainly in their hands, an unexpected incident occurred. In the 76th minute, while standing in the center circle, Mbappe suddenly collapsed on the pitch despite not having collided with any Moroccan player. Anxiety was clearly visible on the faces of the French coaching staff and fans in the stands.
Medical staff immediately arrived to check on the situation. Although he was able to leave the pitch on his own and wave to the fans at Gillette Stadium, the image of Mbappe sitting on the bench with an ice pack tightly pressed against the top of his right foot in the 77th minute became the focus of attention. He was replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta to ensure his safety for the final minutes of the match.
Reassuring words from the superstar and the trust of Deschamps.
Amid speculation about a serious injury that could keep him out of the rest of the tournament, Mbappe quickly reassured the public. He stated: "I have a minor ankle injury, but I'm perfectly fine. Mateta was able to play better in the remaining minutes because he was in better shape, which is the main reason I left the field."
Coach Didier Deschamps did not blame his player after the missed penalty. The French strategist emphasized the steely mentality of his favorite player: "For a player like Mbappe, missing a penalty is not a big deal. He never doubts himself. This match was really complicated, but we achieved our ultimate goal."
France now has less than five days to recover before their crucial semi-final match. Their opponent will be the winner of the Spain vs. Belgium game. Given the demanding nature of the semi-final, Kylian Mbappe's fitness will undoubtedly be the most important challenge for the French coaching staff in the coming days.