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Mbappé’s brace ties Messi, France thrash Sweden, coach exits

7/1/2026

22 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Mbappé Scores Twice

France beat Sweden 3-0 in the World Cup round of 32 on June 30, 2026, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice to reach 18 World Cup goals and tie Lionel Messi at six in 2026.
Michael Olise assisted both Bradley Barcola’s 53rd-minute goal and Mbappé’s second strike.
France will face Paraguay in the round of 16 on Saturday in Philadelphia, with coach Didier Deschamps set to step down after the tournament.

Summary

Mbappé Breaks Record

Kylian Mbappé's ninth knockout-stage goal broke the record of Leonidas and Ronaldo.
His 18 goals and four assists moved him past Pelé to second-most World Cup scorer.
Didier Deschamps earned his ninth knockout-stage win, the most for any World Cup coach.
90 °F heat, which triggered a halftime sprinkler on Lucas Digne, helped lift tournament attendance above five million as 80,663 fans gathered.

History

Historical Context

In Sweden 1958, Just Fontaine netted 13 goals in six matches, a single-tournament record that helped France secure third place. Seventy-eight years later, Kylian Mbappé scored 18 goals at the 2026 World Cup, breaking Fontaine’s mark and underscoring France’s tradition of prolific strikers. His 13-goal haul remains the highest single-tournament total in World Cup history.

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Mbappé Scores Twice

France beat Sweden 3-0 in the World Cup round of 32 on June 30, 2026, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice to reach 18 World Cup goals and tie Lionel Messi at six in 2026.
Michael Olise assisted both Bradley Barcola’s 53rd-minute goal and Mbappé’s second strike.
France will face Paraguay in the round of 16 on Saturday in Philadelphia, with coach Didier Deschamps set to step down after the tournament.

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