France Powers Past Iraq as Mbappé Nears World Cup Scoring Record

A thunderstorm stretched the match to nearly four hours, but nothing could stop Kylian Mbappé from making his mark. France secured a 3–0 win against Iraq, locking their place in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup.

Mbappé wasted no time continuing his remarkable form, blasting a left-footed shot into the net just 14 minutes in. The match paused for two hours due to heavy rain after the first half, yet the delay did not slow France’s momentum. Early in the second half, Mbappé took advantage of a defensive blunder by Iraq to score again, assisted by Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé then added his own goal later, registering his first World Cup goal with a confident finish.

Didier Deschamps’ squad dominated throughout, rarely needing to ease off the pressure. With Mbappé performing at this level, France remains one of the favorites to claim the trophy.

Mbappé Inches Closer to World Cup History

Mbappé now has 16 goals in World Cup matches, averaging a goal per game — an astonishing feat. His opening strike was a powerful shot that left goalkeeper Ahmed Basil helpless, followed by an easy tap-in after Iraq's defensive error.

This marks Mbappé’s third multi-goal World Cup performance recently, tying him with Miroslav Klose as the second highest scorer in tournament history. Lionel Messi leads with 18 goals, but Mbappé’s recent brace brings him within two goals of the Argentine icon. While Messi keeps scoring at this World Cup, it seems only a matter of time before Mbappé surpasses him.

There’s no need to debate—Mbappé is already among the greatest players in World Cup history.

Insights From the Ratings

Dembélé needed this kind of performance. Although not dominant, he scored his first-ever World Cup goal in his 13th appearance and assisted another. This might ease the pressure on him moving forward.

Michael Olise stood out creatively once more. Positioned centrally, he provided two assists and created the most chances, proving to be the team's artistic spark. Mbappé may grab headlines, but Olise drives much of the offense.

Manu Koné stepped up impressively while Aurélien Tchouaméni was sidelined. The Roma midfielder controlled midfield battles effectively, showing why he currently ranks above N’Golo Kanté in the coach’s plans.

Statistics Highlight France’s Dominance

France fired 19 shots compared to Iraq’s 4, none of which forced goalkeeper Mike Maignan into action. Possession was close, with France holding 56%, but Les Bleus had six times more touches inside the box (42 to 7).

Mbappé alone took seven shots, surpassing Iraq’s total attempts, with an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.20 to Iraq’s 0.60.