Kylian Mbappé delivered another outstanding performance as France defeated Sweden 3-0 on Tuesday to secure a place in the World Cup round of 16, where they will face Paraguay.
The French captain scored twice for the third time at this year’s tournament, taking his tally to six goals and matching Lionel Messi as the competition’s joint-leading scorer.
Mbappé opened the scoring just before halftime with a superb piece of skill in the 45th minute before Bradley Barcola doubled France’s lead in the 53rd minute. The 27-year-old forward sealed the victory with his second goal in the 74th minute.
The brace also saw Mbappé make history by becoming the highest scorer in World Cup knockout matches with 10 goals, surpassing Brazilian legends Leonidas and Ronaldo, who each scored eight.
He now has 18 goals in 18 World Cup appearances, leaving him just one behind Messi’s all-time World Cup record of 19 goals, achieved in 29 matches.
“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. We could have done better at the beginning.”
France also became the first team in World Cup history to score at least three goals in five consecutive matches, continuing their impressive run after outscoring opponents 13-2 so far in the tournament.
Sweden manager Graham Potter praised the quality of the French side despite the defeat.
“I personally haven’t seen a better team,” Potter said. “The quality they have all over the pitch and then the options for them off the bench are very, very strong, so they’ve got as good a chance as anybody, I would suggest.”
France coach Didier Deschamps paid tribute to Mbappé by bowing toward him when the forward was substituted in the 85th minute.
“We’re on a mission — so am I with them,” Deschamps said through a translator.
Michael Olise also continued his fine tournament, registering his fifth assist to become the first player since Germany’s Thomas Hassler in 1994 to reach that mark at a World Cup.
