Mbappe leads World Cup Golden Boot as France reach semi-finals ahead of Messi
France captain Kylian Mbappe netted his eighth goal of the 2026 World Cup, leading Les Bleus to a 2-0 quarter-final victory over Morocco on Thursday evening. The 27-year-old missed an early penalty saved by Yassine Bono but redeemed himself in the 60th minute with a curling effort past the goalkeeper. Ousmane Dembele added the second six minutes later to seal the win. Mbappe and Lionel Messi are level on eight goals, but Mbappe leads the Golden Boot race with two assists to his name. Norway striker Erling Haaland sits third with seven goals. France becomes the first team to qualify for the semi-final stage, setting up a clash with the winner of the Argentina versus Spain match. This marks Mbappe's continued dominance over Messi in the scoring charts, adding pressure to Argentina's campaign where Messi is seeking his first World Cup title. For Nigerian fans following the tournament, Mbappe's form represents a new era in World Cup history, with no African teams remaining in the competition.