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France Beats Paraguay; Mbappé’s Double Nears Golden Boot

7/4/2026

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Summary

Mbappé Scores Twice

France beat Paraguay in the round-of-16 at Philadelphia Stadium on July 4 2026.
Kylian Mbappé scored twice, his third tournament brace, raising his total to six goals.
His six goals leave him one behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Betting odds at -600 and Opta’s 78.8 % chance both favor a French regulation win.
Paraguay advanced by beating Germany on penalties, the tournament’s first World Cup upset.

Summary

Messi Milestone

Lionel Messi scored in his eighth straight World Cup match, reaching 20 goals.
He made his 30th World Cup appearance and 13th knockout game, one shy of Miroslav Klose’s record.
Lisandro Martínez delivered a 42.5-meter assist and scored, first Argentine defender since 1966 to record a goal and assist in World Cup match.
Deroy Duarte scored Cape Verde’s first knockout-stage goal, first African to net against Argentina at this stage.

History

Historical Context

France’s first World Cup triumph came on 12 July 1998, when Zidane’s two headers secured a 3-0 win over Brazil at the Stade de France. The victory, France’s inaugural title, was followed by a second championship in 2018, a legacy that today underpins the Mbappé-led team competing while Argentina, the 2022 champions, press for revenge.

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Mbappé Scores Twice

France beat Paraguay in the round-of-16 at Philadelphia Stadium on July 4 2026.
Kylian Mbappé scored twice, his third tournament brace, raising his total to six goals.
His six goals leave him one behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Betting odds at -600 and Opta’s 78.8 % chance both favor a French regulation win.
Paraguay advanced by beating Germany on penalties, the tournament’s first World Cup upset.

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