Mbappé Shines as France Qualifies for the 2026 World Cup

Kylian Mbappé delivered an impressive performance as France secured their qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a decisive victory over Ukraine. The 26-year-old star netted two goals, including a stylish Panenka penalty. Teammates Michael Olise from Bayern Munich and Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike also contributed to the scoreline, solidifying Didier Deschamps’ side’s dominance.

With his stellar display at the Parc des Princes, Mbappé reached a remarkable milestone of 400 career goals for club and country, making him the youngest player to achieve this feat. However, the former Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain forward modestly downplayed the significance of his accomplishment, stating, “Four hundred goals? It is great, but people are not impressed with it. When you have one guy with 950 [Ronaldo] and one with 900 [Messi], I need 400 more if I want to be in the conversation that will shock people.”

Ahead of France’s final World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan, Mbappé withdrew from the squad as a precaution due to an ankle complaint sustained in the match against Ukraine. The French Football Federation (FFF) issued a statement confirming, “French internationals Manu Kone, Eduardo Camavinga, and Kylian Mbappé have been released back to their clubs.”

The statement further noted that Kone received a yellow card and is suspended, while Camavinga is dealing with a muscle strain in his left hamstring. Mbappé, meanwhile, is experiencing inflammation in his right ankle, necessitating further evaluation in Madrid.

Despite his contributions to the team, Mbappé faces criticism. Ex-Monaco and PSG winger Jérôme Rothen accused him of receiving preferential treatment, warning that such actions would only be tolerated as long as Deschamps’ team continues to win. Rothen commented, “While you’re winning, nobody says anything. But when things start to go wrong, decisions like this take their toll. Making decisions like this can create problems in the locker room, and I remain convinced that there are players fed up with this preferential treatment.”

As France prepares to conclude their World Cup qualifying campaign against Azerbaijan, they aim for another victory. Deschamps’ squad has been in excellent form throughout the qualifying stages, achieving four wins in five matches and scoring 13 goals.

In the meantime, Real Madrid will be anxiously monitoring Mbappé’s fitness ahead of the upcoming La Liga fixtures. The team, managed by Xabi Alonso, is set to face Elche on Sunday, 23 November, in hopes of maintaining their position at the top of the league table. Currently, Los Blancos hold a three-point lead over fierce rivals Barcelona, having won 10 out of 12 matches this season. Mbappé’s performance has been outstanding, with 13 league goals and five in four Champions League matches, placing him among the top scorers this season.