France 3 Sweden 0: Kylian Mbappe level with Lionel Messi in World Cup Golden Boot race as he hunts down all-time record

KYLIAN MBAPPE will have been dreaming of scoring the winner at the MetLife Stadium as soon as France lost the 2022 World Cup final. And after doing exactly that to see off Sweden in the last 32, few would bet against him repeating the trick back here in the final on July 19. Les Bleus saw Germany shockingly knocked out by Paraguay on penalties 24 hours earlier to ruin a potential blockbuster last-16 Philadelphia showdown on the 250th July 4 anniversary. But France ensured they would not suffer the same fate as Mbappe scored his 17th and 18th World Cup goals in 18 matches across three tournaments – including six in North America this month. Bradley Barcola got the second in the middle as Michael Olise turned on the style with another two delicious assists. Didier Deschamps missed the final group game, a 4-1 win over Norway, as he returned home following the death of his mother. READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP But he was back in the dugout at the MetLife, up against ex-Chelsea, Brighton and West Ham boss Graham Potter, managing a Sweden side who did not win a single match in qualifying. Potter’s attack featured Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga who cost Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle a combined £253.5million last year. And yet for many, that was nothing compared to the value of France’s terrifying Fab Four of Barcola, Mbappe, Olise and Ousmane Dembele. Eight of Sweden’s starting XI play their football in England – for France, it was just Lucas Digne and William Saliba, although Barcola could join Saliba and Gyokeres at Arsenal this summer. Most read in Football WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS World Cup 2026 - all the info IT'S A KNOCKOUT The knockout stages of the World Cup are here, with many big sides still in the hunt for global glory. England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought for the nation. Powerhouse nations like France, Spain, Brazil and Argentina are all serious contenders for the biggest prize in sport. However, heavyweights Germany and Netherlands have both been knocked out on penalties in the last-32! Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are showing no signs of slowing down, on what looks to be the pair’s final World Cup. LATEST NEWS - Paraguay World Cup star in tears after huge Germany upset - Chelsea legend consoled by Ronaldo after sudden World Cup camp departure - Casemiro’s daughter in tears after Man Utd star scores header vs Japan - South Korea boss RESIGNS after group stage exit - Ronaldo DITCHES £242 limited edition boots after just 45 minutes KEY INFO - World Cup 2026 full match schedule including kick-off times - World Cup 2026 full squads - World Cup 2026 rule changes - World Cup 2026 prize money VIDEO - Proper Football Daily: Get all the expert analysis each morning - Team Talk – Tactics Exposed: Dive into the tactical talking points TIPS AND BETTING If you click a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. CLICK ON PIC FOR STAR’S PROFILE Isak had the first deflected shot of the match but it rolled tamely to Mike Maignan before Lucas Digne and Mbappe both tried their luck from range, Derby goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom collecting the former effort at the second attempt. Bradley Barcola then struck fear into Sweden’s flat-pack four as he dribbled with pace and purpose but flashed over. Mbappe did find the net after bursting clear from Olise’s through ball but was just offside all before the much-needed hydration break in the stifling heat. Fluids replenished, fluid France continued to turn the screw and Mbappe looked destined to break the deadlock on the half-hour. Dembele and Jules Kounde recycled a corner, the former playing in the latter who pulled it back across but Mbappe’s shot hit the base of the post and bounced kindly off a yellow leg to safety. Olise hit the other post in spectacular fashion as he attempted an audacious overhead kick that would have been one of the best World Cup goals ever before Dembele miscued the rebound wide. The Swedish goal was living a charmed life but at the other end, Isak had a chance of his own but could not connect the back of his heel to Elanga’s cross. Mbappe shot straight at Zetterstrom. Olise bent one just wide. Zetterstrom tipped another from Olise round the post. Somehow a frantic first half remained goalless after 45 minutes… It couldn’t be 0-0 at half-time could it? No, it could not. Olise and Dembele combined for a short corner and fed Mbappe, who did a couple of stepovers, dropped his shoulder, left Gyokeres on the floor and fired into the far side netting in emphatic fashion. That was his record-breaking ninth World Cup knockout goal and he celebrated by running straight to Deschamps and give his boss a huge bear hug. Elanga wanted a penalty when Digne when he was pulled down but there was an offside in the build-up and everyone needed a 15-minute breather. But seven minutes after half-time, it was 2-0. Olise yet again found a pocket of space in the No10 and yet again found the perfect pass, slipping the ball through Gustaf Lagerbielke’s legs for Barcola who made no mistake, getting the second at the MetLife just as he did against Senegal a fortnight ago. That was Olise’s fourth assist of the tournament – level at the top with Bruno Guimaraes – but he was desperate to get his first goal, too. Zetterstrom flung down to his right to palm away another curling effort heading for the corner before the Bayern man’s next shot deflected harmlessly wide. Straight after the hydration break, Dembele, Mbappe and Olise broke at rapid speed and Mbappe unselfishly teed up Olise but the goalkeeper denied him as that goal continued to prove elusive. It was roles reversed moments later as Olise got assist No5. Mbappe flicked to Olise who then threaded Mbappe in with a reverse pass and the Real Madrid superstar showed him how its done to go level with Messi at this World Cup and one behind the Argentine’s all-time tally of 19. In doing so, France became the first team to score three or more goals for five consecutive World Cup matches. Barcola sat two defenders down with a fake shot but had France’s 24th shot of the match – and 13th on target – saved, although Olise would have had a tap-in if he squared. Mbappe would have to wait for another hat-trick and to get level with Messi’s total as he was replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta late on while Rayan Cherki took Olise’s place. Gyokeres had Sweden’s best sight of goal but he simply does not possess the finishing quality of Mbappe and Maignan saved – and neither does Mateta who blazed over.