Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | Journalist at WengGlobal
The Historic Milestones That Cemented His Legacy After France’s Victory Over Morocco
Kylian Mbappé further strengthened his reputation as one of football’s greatest talents when France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Although Mbappé did not score in the match, his influence was once again evident as his creativity led to France’s second goal, helping Les Bleus secure a place in the World Cup final against Argentina.
The victory over Morocco marked another defining moment in Mbappé’s already remarkable international career. At just 23 years old during the tournament, the Paris Saint-Germain forward had accumulated a collection of records that many football legends spent entire careers chasing.
His performances throughout the tournament demonstrated not only his exceptional technical ability and blistering pace but also his consistency on football’s biggest stage. By the conclusion of the Morocco match, Mbappé had already established himself among the most prolific World Cup players in history.
Following France’s victory over Morocco, Mbappé became the youngest player since Brazilian legend Pelé to reach two FIFA World Cup finals.
Pelé achieved the feat in 1958 and 1962, helping Brazil win consecutive World Cup titles. Mbappé first reached the final in 2018, where he scored in France’s 4-2 victory over Croatia, becoming only the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final.
Four years later, he guided France back to another final, highlighting his remarkable consistency at the highest level of international football.
Fastest Player to Nine World Cup Goals
Mbappé’s goal against Poland in the Round of 16 and his brace during the same match elevated his World Cup tally to nine goals before the semi-final against Morocco.
He became the youngest player ever to score nine FIFA World Cup goals, surpassing several legendary names including Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pelé at the same age.
Reaching nine goals after only 11 World Cup appearances underlined his extraordinary efficiency in the competition.
Before facing Morocco, Mbappé had already established himself as the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals.
His goals came against Australia, Denmark and Poland, making him the frontrunner for the Golden Boot award heading into the latter stages of the competition.
Although Lionel Messi later matched his tally before the final, Mbappé remained one of the standout performers throughout the tournament.
Most World Cup Goals Before Turning 24
Mbappé became the first player in World Cup history to score at least nine goals before celebrating his 24th birthday.
Many of football’s greatest forwards—including Ronaldo Nazário, Gerd Müller, Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi—had not reached such numbers at the same age.
His achievement highlighted the extraordinary pace of his international career and suggested that even greater milestones remained within reach.
France’s Key Attacking Force
While Olivier Giroud continued to break France’s all-time scoring records, Mbappé remained the team’s most dangerous attacking threat throughout Qatar 2022.
His pace, dribbling ability and movement consistently troubled opposition defences. Against Morocco, he produced the shot that eventually fell to Randal Kolo Muani, who scored just seconds after coming onto the pitch to seal France’s victory.
Although Mbappé was not credited with an assist under FIFA’s official statistics, his decisive involvement once again demonstrated his importance to Didier Deschamps’ side.
Among France’s Greatest World Cup Goalscorers
By the end of the Morocco match, Mbappé had accumulated nine World Cup goals, placing him among France’s greatest scorers in the tournament’s history.
Only Just Fontaine’s legendary tally of 13 goals—scored during the 1958 World Cup—remained ahead of him among French players.
Mbappé’s impact extends beyond goals and records. His performances have redefined expectations for young footballers on the international stage, combining speed, intelligence, composure and leadership.
France’s victory over Morocco showcased another aspect of his game—his ability to create opportunities and influence matches even when he was not on the scoresheet.
Football analysts and former players have consistently described Mbappé as one of the defining talents of his generation, with many predicting he could challenge several all-time World Cup records if he maintains his current trajectory.
His consistency across two consecutive World Cups has already placed him in rare company. Few players have demonstrated such sustained excellence in football’s most prestigious tournament at such a young age.
Looking Ahead
France’s triumph over Morocco set up one of the most anticipated World Cup finals in modern history against Argentina and Lionel Messi.
The final represented not only a clash between two football powerhouses but also a meeting between two generations of global superstars.
For Mbappé, it offered another opportunity to extend his remarkable World Cup legacy and continue building a career that many believe could rank among the greatest in football history.
Regardless of the outcome, his achievements before the final had already secured his place in the record books. His combination of youth, consistency and extraordinary productivity suggested that the best chapters of his World Cup story were still to come.
As football continues to evolve, Kylian Mbappé remains one of the sport’s defining figures—a player capable of inspiring a generation while rewriting the history of the FIFA World Cup.
Sources
FIFA
BBC Sport
Reuters
ESPN
Sky Sports
The Athletic
France Football
