Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Kylian Mbappe injury fears eased after the France captain was substituted in the 77th minute of the 2-0 FIFA World Cup quarter-final win over Morocco at Boston Stadium.
Mbappe went down with an apparent right foot issue late in the match, but later described the problem as minor after France booked a semi-final place.
The update comes during a major World Cup run of squad planning and long-term debate, including Socceroos 2030 World Cup squad predictions after Australia’s exit.
Mbappe Leaves After Foot Issue
Mbappe had already scored a superb goal against Morocco, curling an effort past Yassine Bounou after missing a penalty earlier in the contest.
The France forward appeared to take a knock while moving through the field and stayed down before medical staff came on. Jean-Philippe Mateta replaced him for the final 13 minutes plus stoppage time.
Mbappe was later seen on the bench with ice on his right ankle, but he looked comfortable while joining teammates in the post-match celebrations.
"I'm completely fine," Mbappe said post-match. "[Jean-Philippe] Mateta was in a better position to play the remaining minutes of the match and was fitter at that moment. That's all that happened."
France Avoid Major Scare
The sight of Mbappe leaving the pitch briefly worried France supporters, especially with the semi-final now ahead.
His form remains central to France’s World Cup hopes. The 27-year-old has continued to lead the Golden Boot race while pushing France deeper into another tournament.
Official tournament news, fixtures and results are available through the FIFA World Cup.
Injury Record And Age
Mbappe has generally avoided long spells out since becoming one of the world’s leading forwards. During the 2025-26 season, he missed nine matches because of several issues, including knee trouble and a torn muscle fibre in his left leg.
Across 10 seasons, Mbappe has missed 60 matches in total, averaging six missed games per year.
Mbappe is 27 and will turn 28 on December 20. He has also become the youngest player to reach 20 World Cup appearances, passing the previous mark held by Poland’s Wladislaw Zmuda.
