​France have reached the World Cup semi-finals for the third consecutive edition after defeating Morocco 2-0 on Thursday night. The run spans 2018, 2022, and 2026, marking three appearances in the last four and possibly three successive finals as well. The article highlights an extraordinary stat: only two players remained in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups—Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé—and now they share an astonishing record: they simply have never been eliminated from a World Cup in their careers. It’s a straightforward fact—you don’t knock out Kyks and Ous at the World Cup.
What makes this even more remarkable is their scoring tally since the tournament began. Mbappé has eight goals, while Dembélé has five, placing them as the first pair to each reach at least five goals in the same World Cup edition since Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002. The origin of this electric partnership goes back to June 2017, at the Stade de France, during the friendly against England, when their chemistry first sparked.
Nine years on, Mbappé and Dembélé have evolved into more than just teammates; they are world champions and European champions, undefeated at the World Cup, and enduring legends of the French national team. Their accolades extend beyond the pitch, with Ballon d’Or considerations and recognition as Europe’s top scorers at various points in their careers. The emotional arc of their journey—from a budding bromance to global stardom—reads like a modern football fairytale.
This piece has been translated into English by Artificial Intelligence, with the original French version available for readers who prefer it. It also serves as a nod to better search engine optimization.