​Kylian Mbappé had a prime opportunity to put France ahead 1-0 against Morocco in the 28th minute of their Round of 16 World Cup clash on Thursday, but the star forward saw his chance thwarted by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Mbappé had ample time to figure out a way to beat Bounou, especially since a VAR review took over three minutes to confirm the call. The extended stoppage after the whistle following a foul by Noussair Mazraoui forced Mbappé to restart his pre-penalty shot routine multiple times.
After Bounou denied him, Mbappé directed his grievance toward Argentine referee Facundo Tello, who did not appear inclined to engage in a conversation. If Mbappé had converted his attempt, he would have caught up with Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot with eight goals, tying Messi at the top.
That save also snapped Mbappé’s remarkable streak of 15 consecutive successful penalties. The last time he missed a penalty for France was during a Euro 2020 Round of 16 defeat to Switzerland. For Bounou, this stop marked his fourth penalty save in World Cup play, including shootouts. He has been difficult for opponents to score against, with opponents finding the net only twice on the nine penalties he has faced, and three shots missing the target, according to Squawka’s records.
The teams went to halftime with the score still 0-0, as both sides headed to the locker rooms with parity on the scoreboard. The late drama in the first half set the stage for a tense second half, as France pushed to break through and Morocco aimed to protect their goalkeeper’s improbable run of saves. The dramatic moment underscored Mbappé’s hunger for goals and his continued impact on the World Cup stage, while Bounou’s brilliance between the posts reaffirmed his status as one of the competition’s elite shot-stoppers.