Kylian Mbappé Chases World Cup Glory as Belgium Prepares for Senegal Showdown

Kylian Mbappé walked off the pitch in Philadelphia with the match ball under his arm and a bigger prize in his sights.

Two more goals in a 3-0 dismantling of Sweden pushed him to 18 World Cup strikes in 18 games, one behind Lionel Messi’s all-time record of 19. He now sits level with the Argentine on six goals at this tournament. The numbers are outrageous. Mbappé, though, kept dragging the conversation back to one date, one city.

July 19. New York.

“The goal is to go as far as possible – to make it to (the final on) July 19th and come back here,” he told reporters, barely lingering on the personal milestones stacking up behind him.

France, ruthless and efficient, never let Sweden breathe in their round-of-32 tie. Mbappé’s double set the tone as Les Bleus cruised through, yet the forward sounded more like a man still in the warm-up than one chasing down the greatest World Cup scorer of all time.

“We’re trying to win; we’re taking it one step at a time,” he said. “Of course, the more goals you score, the higher you climb in the rankings – I’m not telling anyone anything new there.

“But I’m also convinced that Leo is going to score more goals, so I don’t focus too much on that. I’m more focused on the opponents we might face and how close we’re getting to our goal: the final.”

Messi and Argentina will expect to move in tandem with him when they face Cape Verde in the last 32 on Friday. Mbappé’s path looks trickier. France now head for a cagey-looking showdown with Paraguay, whose stubborn resistance just sent Germany home on penalties.

Paraguay sat deep, suffered, and then pounced to knock out the four-time world champions. No one inside the French camp expects them to suddenly open up and trade blows in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Les Bleus, Mbappé insisted, will prepare for a grind.

“I think we’ll keep working between now and the Paraguay match to see what we can improve, because there are still some sequences that aren't quite clear enough, there’s room for improvement,” he said. “Still, I think it’s positive overall, and our ability to score goals means we always have the chance to take the lead in matches.”

That cutting edge has France dreaming of New York. Mbappé’s finishing has them believing they can stay there until the very last night.

Belgium resets its World Cup story – but Senegal stands in the way

While Mbappé chases history, Belgium are simply trying to rewrite theirs.

Four years ago in Qatar, a golden generation stumbled out at the group stage, a flat sequel to their sparkling third-place finish at Russia 2018. This time, they have at least cleared that first psychological hurdle. A 5-1 hammering of New Zealand sealed top spot in Group G and, with it, the minimum target set by coach Rudi Garcia.

“We wanted to finish first in the group stage and we succeeded,” Garcia said in French. “Of course we wanted to win more — we know the story of our World Cup so far. Now it is time for the knockout phase. Senegal is a big team. But, you have to beat them, too, if you want to go far in a World Cup.”

Belgium’s group campaign – one win, two draws – was solid rather than spectacular. It has, however, given them a platform they squandered in 2022. The next step comes on Wednesday against a Senegal side that looks far more dangerous than its third-place finish in Group I suggests.

Senegal emerged from one of the tournament’s most unforgiving groups, one that contained France and Erling Haaland’s Norway, with three points and a plus-2 goal difference. They were hardened, not humbled.

“We know it will be a tough match,” Romelu Lukaku said in French. “Senegal has a lot of top-level players, and the coach is, too. I think it’s 50-50. We really shouldn’t underestimate them.”

The warning landed before the tournament’s bracket exploded. Within hours, Germany had been bundled out by Paraguay on penalties and Morocco had sent the Netherlands spinning to their earliest World Cup exit. On paper, Belgium are favourites. On this evidence, the paper can be torn up in an instant.

“It doesn’t matter who the favorite is,” said forward Charles De Ketelaere. “We have confidence and need to be sharp. Yesterday showed that it doesn’t matter if you are the favorite.”

Belgium’s confidence stems in part from a defence anchored by Thibaut Courtois. They have conceded just two goals in three games, a foundation that has allowed Garcia to ease his way through the group and manage resources. The return of centre back Zeno Debast to full training is another boost, even if the timing is tight.

Debast, yet to feature at this World Cup due to a left leg injury, took part in his first full session on Monday after an MRI on Saturday and trained again Tuesday with tape on his left knee. Garcia, though, is not inclined to rush.

“Zeno Debast is with the group, but tomorrow is still too soon,” the coach said. “He is making progress, though. He still needs time to get fully fit, as was anticipated. I am very satisfied with the defenders we have already called upon.”

Senegal bring a very different kind of threat. Sadio Mané leads an attack that just demolished Iraq 5-0, a statement win that underlined their capacity to turn any defensive lapse into punishment. The question now is whether they can break down one of the tournament’s most disciplined back lines.

They will have to do it without first-choice goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. Injured in a 3-2 defeat to Norway, Mendy has been ruled out of Wednesday’s clash by coach Pape Thiaw. Mory Diaw, who stepped in against Iraq and kept a clean sheet, is expected to continue.

“Mory had a great performance,” Thiaw said in French. “He kept a clean sheet and I think (as) the goalkeeper tomorrow, we hope that we’ll also come up with a clean sheet.”

Thiaw has watched Paraguay and Morocco tear up reputations in a single night. His message to Senegal is clear: top seeds are there to be toppled.

“It’s not because you finished top of your group that you’re not going to be knocked out in the next round,” he said. “That’s exactly what happened with the Netherlands. It’s another tournament starting. We are looking for the win tomorrow so that we can continue our journey.”

For Mbappé and France, the journey is calibrated to one stadium, one final, one date in July. For Belgium and Senegal, it is far less glamorous and far more immediate. Survive Wednesday, or join Germany and the Netherlands in the wreckage of this World Cup’s first real shockwave.