7M - Mbappe Downplays Injury Concern After France Reaches Semifinals

Following their 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Morocco in Boston, France advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Concerns arose when star forward Kylian Mbappe left the pitch before the final whistle. However, the Real Madrid attacker quickly reassured fans, confirming he only suffered a minor ankle injury and expects to be fit for the next match.

Mbappe explained that the substitution was purely precautionary, noting that teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta was fresher and better prepared to finish the high-stakes game. Under manager Didier Deschamps, France has maintained an impressive run in the knockout stages, beating Sweden 3-0 and Paraguay 1-0 before their triumph over Morocco. They now await the winner of the Spain versus Belgium matchup.

The victory also brought a bittersweet moment for Mbappe, who shared an emotional embrace after the match with his close friend and former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Achraf Hakimi. Looking ahead, Mbappe remains focused on capturing France's third World Cup title, currently leading the Golden Boot race alongside Lionel Messi with eight goals.