France striker Kylian Mbappe hit back at a Paraguayan senator, describing her as a "despicable woman" on Monday after she launched a racist attack on him following Paraguay's elimination from the World Cup.

France star Kylian Mbappe reclaimed top spot after netting his seventh goal of the tournament in the Round of 16 victory over Paraguay. The French forward edges ahead thanks to his two assists, giving him the advantage over Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who also sits on seven goals.

During the 1982 World Cup, a 22-year-old Diego Maradona was beginning to reveal the extraordinary talent that would eventually make him one of football's greatest players. Standing in his way was Italy centre-back Claudio Gentile -- ironically anything but gentle.

Didier Deschamps feared that Kylian Mbappe would be "chopped down" by Paraguay in Saturday's ill-tempered clash in Philadelphia, which saw France advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.

With the 2026 World Cup still ongoing and the possibility of future tournaments ahead, Mbappe appears well placed to challenge, and potentially surpass, Messi's record in the years to come.

Their win was less a showcase of French elegance than a survival exercise, with Kylian Mbappe's penalty finally settling an ill-tempered contest that Paraguay had dragged into their preferred territory of physical confrontation and tactical disruption.

France captain Kylian Mbappe said his side were happy to do whatever it takes to advance in the World Cup after they battled through a bad-tempered last-16 tie with Paraguay to win 1-0 on Saturday.

Kylian Mbappe's second-half penalty earned France a hard-fought 1-0 win over Paraguay in the World Cup last 16 in scorching heat on Saturday, sending them into a quarter-final against Morocco.

The inaugural Round of 32 in the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup delivered on every front. There were shocks and surprises, thrilling comebacks, heartbreaking exits and the fall of several giants.

Top favourites France will be eyeing a place in the quarterfinals as they take on Paraguay in their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash at Philadelphia Stadium tonight.

France are bracing for furnace-like temperatures when they face Paraguay in Philadelphia in the World Cup's last 16 on Sunday as co-hosts Canada prepare for a daunting date with African giants Morocco in Houston.

If they are still defined by pragmatism, that pragmatism comes from this France team’s togetherness, wrought in liquid gold.

Deschamps summed up the mood best: “They’re on a mission, and I’m on a mission with them.”

The 27-year-old netted a double as Les Bleus crushed Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32 on Tuesday to move one shy of Messi's record 19 goals at World Cups and join him on top of the scoring charts in this edition with six.

Kylian Mbappe joined Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot race at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after scoring twice in France's convincing 3-0 victory over Sweden in their Round of 32 clash at the New York-New Jersey Stadium today.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Michael Olise was in scintillating form as France beat Sweden 3-0 at the World Cup on Wednesday and set up a last-16 clash with Paraguay.

France coach Didier Deschamps reshuffled his left flank for France's World Cup last-32 clash with Sweden on Wednesday, handing full back Lucas Digne and forward Bradley Barcola spots in the starting lineup.

Sweden have embraced their underdog status ahead of tonight's World Cup Round of 32 clash with France in New Jersey, insisting the pressure rests firmly on the 2018 champions.

Dominating online sports culture during the FIFA World Cup, the viral Dictator Mbappe meme parody humorously reframes French superstar Kylian Mbappe as the ultimate ruler of football. This internet phenomenon unites global fans through shared laughter.

With Argentina beating Jordan 3-1 and Algeria and Austria playing out a dramatic 3-3 draw in the final Group J matches, the group stage of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 came to an end on Sunday.