Month: July 2026

France star Kylian Mbappé has done nothing but stack his numbers every time he takes the stage at the World Cup. As he does so, he’s either on the precipice or already matching all-time records at the World Cup. So, with Mbappé already approaching some historic marks in the history of the World Cup, is he the best player to ever play in the tournament? Well, FOX Sports’ Peter Crouch thinks Mbappé is well on his way to becoming the World Cup’s GOAT. “Mbappé, the numbers are becoming ridiculous. I’m going [to say he’s] potentially the greatest ever World Cup player,” Crouch said of Mbappé after France’s 2-0 win over Morocco. “27 years old, [he has the] most knockout goals, he’s got 20 goals, one behind Messi. He’s potentially playing in three World Cup finals if they get to the final, scored a hat trick in the final that France didn’t win. The numbers are stacking up.” Mbappé entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup looking to make the final for the third time in as many tournament appearances. While this marks Mbappé’s first World Cup captaining France, he’s also set some records along the way. After he scored in Thursday’s win, Mbappé now has 20 goals at the World Cup, which are the second-most ever. He’s also the first player to score eight goals in two separate World Cups. As Mbappé continues to add to his World Cup résumé, FOX Sports’ Stu Holden also thinks the France star is entering a category of his own. “At 19, he was the first teenager to win the World Cup since Pele. He’s different,” Holden added. “He has it all. When I see him playing at this level, he’s playing a different game than others. I know we all love Messi, but I feel like by the time Mbappé is done, he could be the greatest of all time.” In terms of goals, Lionel Messi is the only player Mbappé is chasing in World Cup history. Messi’s the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer with 21. But Messi also has a few other World Cup records to his name, like the most consecutive World Cup matches with a goal (nine) and the most World Cup assists of all-time (nine). However, Messi’s played in twice as many World Cups (six) as Mbappé (three). So, Mbappé certainly has time to catch up to the 39-year-old Messi’s records, if he hasn’t by the end of the 2026 World Cup. And Thursday was another day where Mbappé’s tenacity was on full display. Following a scoreless first half, Mbappé scored one of the goals of the tournament in the second half to give his side a 1-0 lead. Ousmane Dembélé followed suit shortly after with his fifth goal this tournament in the 66th minute to send France to the semifinals. Even if it took Mbappé 60 minutes to score against a competitive Morocco team, FOX Sports’ Kasper Schmeichel knew that he was not going to let up until he found the net. “It’s an absolutely phenomenal record. He wasn’t going to be denied today,” Schmeichel said of Mbappé’s growing list of World Cup marks. “His goal was exceptional, the skill and the vision. He is absolutely deserving of all the praise he gets, and he is absolutely undeserving of all the criticism he gets.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Lamine Yamal has become one of the most compelling stories at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The generational prodigy first captured global attention during Spain’s championship run at Euro 2024, where he earned Young Player of the Tournament honors just one day after turning 17. Now 18, the FC Barcelona forward is continuing his rapid ascent on the world stage in North America. Yamal scored his first career World Cup goal during a 4-0 group-stage win over Saudi Arabia and followed it up with an outstanding performance against Austria, earning Man of the Match honors in the round of 32. It is the latest chapter for a player who has consistently shattered records, including becoming Barcelona’s youngest-ever debutant and Spain’s youngest-ever goalscorer. Raised in the humble Rocafonda neighborhood of Mataró, he was famously bathed by Lionel Messi in a 2007 charity photoshoot. He later shattered records as Barcelona’s youngest-ever debutant and Spain’s youngest-ever goalscorer. Let’s dive deeper in into the lore of Lamine Yamal: The Meaning Behind The Name While soccer fans know him simply as Lamine Yamal, his given names carry a deep personal meaning. His full name is Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana, with Lamine and Yamal serving as two distinct first names. In Arabic, Lamine translates to “the trustworthy,” while Yamal means “beauty.” In the months leading up to his birth in Catalonia, Yamal’s family faced severe financial hardships and emotional uncertainty. During this difficult period, two local neighbors stepped forward to offer financial aid to help keep the expectant family afloat. His parents chose the names to honor two individuals who provided critical emotional and financial support to the family in the months leading up to his birth. Meeting Messi As A Baby Long before he began rewriting the record books for Barcelona, Yamal shared a chance encounter with the club’s greatest icon. In 2007, local newspaper Diario Sport and UNICEF organized a charity raffle in Mataró. Yamal’s family won the raffle, earning a spot in a calendar photoshoot. The resulting session featured a 20-year-old Lionel Messi holding a six-month-old Yamal in a plastic baby bathtub inside the Camp Nou dressing room. The images went viral years later, presenting a prophetic passing of the torch as Yamal began his own career at Barcelona. Raised In Rocafonda Yamal was raised in Rocafonda, a working-class neighborhood in Mataró, Catalonia. His father emigrated from Morocco and his mother from Equatorial Guinea. Despite his sudden rise to global fame, Yamal remains deeply connected to his roots. When Yamal scores a goal, he often celebrates by flashing the number 304 with his fingers. The gesture represents the final digits of 08304, the postal code for Rocafonda, serving as a permanent tribute to his hometown. Growing up in this working-class enclave, Yamal learned to play football on concrete pitches and narrow streets, developing the brilliant, unpredictable flair that defines his game today. For the youth of Rocafonda and similar working-class communities across Europe, he is living proof that greatness can emerge from anywhere. The Rise Of Yamal Yamal’s footballing journey accelerated quickly after he was scouted at age 6. Yamal progressed through Barcelona’s La Masia academy at an unprecedented pace, making his professional debut for the first team at just 15 years old. His international breakthrough came at Euro 2024, where he became the youngest player and youngest goalscorer in the tournament’s history as Spain went on to claim the title. Alongside Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí, he recently made more history against Austria, becoming part of the first teenage duo to start a World Cup knockout match together since Pelé and José Altafini did so for Brazil in 1958. Global Superstardom Yamal’s rapid ascent to the top of the footballing world has already translated into massive individual fame. He has quickly become the centerpiece of major marketing campaigns for global brands like Adidas and McDonald’s. His digital footprint is equally staggering; with over 45 million Instagram followers, he commands a larger audience than Shohei Ohtani, Patrick Mahomes, and Roger Federer combined. This immense star power was perfectly captured last month in Atlanta, where a massive Powerade advertisement featuring Yamal draped the side of a 42-story downtown hotel. The 18-year-old phenom proved he is worth the hype, scoring Spain’s opening goal of the World Cup in a dominant win over Saudi Arabia. Days earlier, video clips of Yamal shopping at a Walmart in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, garnered millions of views on social media. Shifting the record books is already second nature for the teenager, who captured the Kopa Trophy, the prestigious global award crowning the world’s best player under the age of 21, and shattered history as the youngest-ever nominee for the Ballon d’Or at 17. Yet, his true impact isn’t just measured by the individual hardware in his trophy case, but in his ability to take over games and terrorize defenses in the blink of an eye. As Spain marches into the high-stakes pressure cooker of the World Cup knockout rounds, the “wonderkid” label has officially been outgrown. Yamal is the engine of Spain’s championship ambitions, and undeniably one of the most influential titans in global sports today, regardless of age.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

A trip to the semifinals is on the line when Spain and Belgium meet on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium in the second quarterfinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As the reigning European Champions and having not conceded a goal through five games at this tournament, Spain enters this game as the clear favorites. But Belgium will not be an easy opponent after the team has come to life in its last three games, where it has scored 12 goals. This could be a hard-fought game, with the winner taking on a very powerful French team. Here is everything you need to know for Friday at the World Cup: Spain vs. Belgium When: Friday, July 10, 3 p.m. ET Where: Los Angeles Stadium TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One After two lackluster draws to begin the tournament, Belgium’s offense has taken its game to another level in the last three games, including a 5-1 win over New Zealand, a 3-2 win over Senegal and, most recently, a 4-1 win over the United States. The Red Devils have received a balanced scoring attack during this run, with Charles De Ketelaere, Leandro Trossard and Youri Tielemans all scoring twice, with Romelu Lukaku also adding three as a substitute. Belgium has also received five goals from substitutes at this World Cup, allowing it to attack effectively for the entire 90 minutes. Head coach Rudi Garcia’s team has been scoring goals with ease, but now must attempt to break through against a defense that has conceded no goals at this World Cup. There are many decisions that Garcia faces. Veteran midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, 35, is not fully match-fit and was rested in the win over the United States. But Garcia might feel the need to start him as the Napoli man has the unique skill to break lines with his passes and create chances against the run of play. Garcia also faces a question at center forward. De Ketelaere was the Man of the Match against the United States with two first-half goals to set the pace for a blowout win. But veteran Napoli forward Romelu Lukaku, 33, has been excellent off the bench, and he offers a more physically powerful option to go against Spain’s elite defense. So much has been made of Spain’s elite defense at this World Cup, with five clean sheets to get the team through. What is even more impressive is that Spain’s defense has excelled under the pressure of close games, not just blowouts. In the round of 16, Spain defeated Portugal, 1-0, with Mikel Merino only finding a winner in second half stoppage time. A major factor behind the team’s defense is its elite possession, led by Pedri and Rodri, who are arguably the best central midfielder pairing at this World Cup. But the team’s offense needs to pick up as it is not close to the level it showed two years ago at the European Championships when it scored 15 goals in wins over Croatia, Italy, Germany, France and England en route to the title. Luis de la Fuente’s team has been excellent at this World Cup, but is still capable of a lot more in the attack. Defense has been carrying the day for Spain, but there will come a time when it needs to be the other way around. Players To Watch The Arsenal winger has arguably been Belgium’s best player at this World Cup with two goals and two assists so far in the tournament (with those goal contributions all coming in the last three games). He has been instrumental in taking shots and creating chances. He could be the Red Devils’ most important option in trying to break down Spain’s impenetrable defense. Spain will eventually be required to score more goals to have a realistic chance of winning the title. It will not be able to completely defend its way through the World Cup. Barcelona’s Yamal, 18, is the best teenager in the game and has already been nominated for the Ballon d’Or. Through five games at this tournament, he has only one goal and no assists. If he can find the form he displayed this season at Barcelona, Spain will be in great shape.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

France has clinched its spot in the 2026 World Cup semifinals after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Morocco, a game in which Les Bleus proved they were far superior. Despite not scoring or assisting a goal on the day, one player stood out to Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović: midfielder Michael Olise. France only won 2-0, but the margin could have been much greater based on the balance of play, and that was despite Kylian Mbappé missing a penalty earlier on after a save from Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scored within six minutes of each other in the second half to give France a much-deserved victory. Despite not registering a goal or assist, Olise still bossed the game as France’s main creative outlet, showing his technical ability and his ability to find teammates with accurate, line-breaking passes. His play earned high praise from FOX Sports analysts Henry and Ibrahimović, who compared him to Tom Brady as Olise put on a display at Boston Stadium. “I want to talk about the pass of Michael Olise,” Henry said. “… As soon as you get the ball, it’s over. We’re here in Foxborough … Tom Brady, that’s one of your loop passes in between. This team is very good.” “He did amazing again,” Ibrahimović said of the Bayern Munich star. “He was the point guard. The Tom Brady of France today. “When you have a player like Olise … don’t think, just run and the ball will arrive – and it will arrive exactly where you want it.” France overpowered Morocco in one of the more one-sided quarterfinal matchups in recent history. France never really looked like getting out of second gear. And from the get-go, Morocco looked second best. “This France team is gonna destroy you, and it feels like they’re not even giving 100%,” Ibrahimović said. “I’m sorry to say, but it feels like that. Imagine if they would push and give 100%, where they suffer and they really push for it and fight for it.” “This is world-class,” he added. “If I talk about [Kylian] Mbappé, world-class players, you give them a little space, they will punish you. That’s the difference between world-class and the average player.” France now awaits the winner of Spain-Belgium in the semifinals. Henry believes this France team will have a difficult test no matter which team it faces, and he hopes there is still another level France can reach even after this overpowering performance. “I hope they’re going to have more gears, because whoever is coming next is going to be a big game,” Henry said. “If you play Belgium, there is a bit of rivalry there. And if you play Spain, you better be ready because they’re the European champions. You know what Spain can do. They got France out of the last Euros in the semifinal. “But yeah, let’s be calm, composed, focused. You did what you had to do today, and (did it) well, by the way. On to the next one. Recover, watch the game and see who you’re going to play. Analyze it with whoever you need to analyze it with and get ready. “It’s going to be, once again, difficult.” France will take on the winner of Belgium-Spain on Tuesday, July 14, at Dallas Stadium (3 p.m. ET on FOX and streaming on FOX One).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There’s something you should know about me: I’m a romantic. For better or worse, I am often blamed for idealizing emotion. Someone who thrives for beauty out of the simplest things in life. I also love to root for a narrative to be twisted on its head. It brings joy out of something unexpected. It’s a helpful character trait for a writer, but sometimes, it can be a detriment for a football analyst. And this was my dilemma Thursday as France, once again — like a sea monster destroying everything in its sight — won its World Cup quarterfinal, 2-0, against Morocco with history repeating itself, as this was the same scoreline from 2022 in Qatar when Les Bleus won out against the Atlas Lions in the semifinal stage. Me, the eternal romantic, thought Morocco could actually create the upset and reclaim a spot in the semifinals once again. But my goodness. How silly of me to become so romanticized with the notion that the Northern Africans could even be on the same level as France. In the words of Oscar Wilde: “After the first glass, you see things as you wish they were. … Finally, you see things as they really are, and that is the most horrible thing in the world.” And that’s what happened to Morocco, in a blistering heat in Foxborough, southwest of Boston, as Mohamed Ouahbi melted under pressure and played in a way that really was the opposite of what I believed his team to be. It says a lot when your best player of the day was the wonderful goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, who stopped a first-half penalty from Kylian Mbappé. Maybe then, you thought, Morocco might stand a chance. But Mbappé, just like this French side, doesn’t ever stop charging. France, in fact, isn’t a team. It is an ocean. And you, Morocco, can only hope not drown in your dinghy. Morocco didn’t register a shot on target until the 82nd minute. It only had five touches in the opponent’s box — France had 25 — and did not register a single big chance. It was lost at sea. What angered me was the strategy because this was not the Morocco I knew from this tournament. I was there at New York/New Jersey Stadium in the first match of the group stage, witnessing the magnificent Ayyoub Bouaddi, only 18, turn Casemiro into a middle-schooler. I saw bravery against the Netherlands and tenacity against Canada. That’s why today it perplexed me. Morocco, quite simply, showed France too much respect. Don’t get me wrong: Didier Deschamps’ team deserves the ultimate respect. But it doesn’t need a red carpet to walk on, which is what happened today. And if you allow France to even have an inch, the 2018 winner, 2022 runner-up and 2026 semifinalist won’t take a mile. It will eat your entire map. Kylian Mbappé continues to marvel at us as he scored his eighth goal of the tournament, leveling Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot race and only one behind the Argentinian in the all-time record of 20. Ousmane Dembélé netted his fifth and Michael Olise has actually transformed himself into somewhat of a modern hybrid version of Zinedine Zidane — a legend who scored but, most importantly, created. So now comes the winner of Spain and Belgium, and to me, in this moment, there is no point in romanticizing anything anymore. Let’s just call it as it is: This is France’s World Cup to lose. And there’s nothing poetic about that statement. These are just the facts.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports