France Defeats Sweden 3-0 as Mbappé Breaks World Cup Knockout Goal Record

Kylian Mbappé scored twice to break the record for most goals in World Cup knockout matches as France defeated Sweden 3-0 at MetLife Stadium on June 30. The win was France's largest margin in a knockout match since its 3-0 victory over Brazil in the 1998 final. Mbappé opened the scoring in the 45th minute with an individual effort after a crossover step.

He added his second goal in the 74th minute from a pass by Michael Olise. Bradley Barcola scored France's second goal early in the second half. Mbappé was substituted in the 85th minute. The two goals gave Mbappé his ninth and tenth in World Cup knockout matches, surpassing the previous record of eight shared by Leonidas and Ronaldo.

He has scored six goals in the 2026 tournament and 18 career World Cup goals in 18 matches, one behind Lionel Messi's total of 19 in 29 matches. Olise recorded two assists in the match and now has five for the tournament, the most by one player at a men's World Cup since Thomas Hässler in 1994.

France outshot Sweden 25-7, including 15-3 in the first half, on a 90-degree Fahrenheit day that was sunny and humid.

Mbappé hit the post in the 32nd minute. Olise's bicycle kick attempt in the 36th minute also struck the post. France goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström tipped an Olise shot just outside the post before Mbappé's opening goal, which came after a short corner from Olise to Ousmane Dembélé.

This was the first World Cup meeting between the two nations. Coach Didier Deschamps returned to the sideline after missing France's group stage finale against Norway to attend his mother's funeral. "I'm very aware of who I am, how I play, what I shall do, but it's not just about me," Mbappé said through a translator.

"The entire team is aware of what should be done. It is a new competition that has started today. We did play well, but we were timid. " "He knows that he will never be alone with us and we will support him," Mbappé said of Deschamps.