AFCON 2025
France brushed aside Sweden 3-0 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday to reach the World Cup last 16, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice in another statement performance.
Mbappé scored twice while Michael Olise, who could have had at least two goals himself, settled for two assists as Les Bleus reached the Round of 16 for a fourth straight World Cup.
France showed early warning signs as Mbappe scuffed a close-range effort off the post, while Olise also hit the woodwork with a spectacular bicycle-kick attempt before the breakthrough finally came.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the 45th minute with a brilliant piece of footwork to put France 1-0 up at halftime. Bradley Barcola doubled the lead early in the second half, before Mbappé capped the scoring in the 74th minute to set a new World Cup knockout-round scoring record.
Mbappé’s brace also pushed his tournament tally level with Lionel Messi. His six goals in the tournament tied Argentina’s Messi for the Golden Boot lead and took his career World Cup total to 18, one short of Messi’s all-time record.
The 27-year-old continues to rewrite his own history at the tournament. Tuesday’s brace marked his seventh career multi-goal game at the World Cup, a new record for the competition, and it pushed his knockout-stage goal tally to 10, surpassing the mark he previously shared with Brazilian great Ronaldo.
France will face Paraguay in the Round of 16 after Paraguay advanced past Germany in a penalty shootout in the previous round, with Didier Deschamps’ side heavily fancied to continue their run toward a third straight World Cup final.
