Mbappe scores twice as France beat Ukraine 4-0 to clinch 2026 FIFA World Cup place.
Kylian Mbappé bagged a brace — highlighted by a cheeky Panenka — and Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike opened his account for Les Bleus as France booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with a commanding win over Ukraine.
After a cagey, scoreless first half, France shifted gears after the break. The floodgates opened when Michael Olise was brought down in the area, giving the hosts a chance from the spot.
Mbappé stepped up and, with trademark swagger, chipped his penalty straight down the middle as Trubin dived away.
Ukraine, though, will feel hard done by. Only moments earlier they believed they might get a penalty. VAR sent referee Slavko Vinčić to the monitor after a coming-together involving Dayot Upamecano, but the original decision — no foul — stood.
Mbappé nearly added to his tally twice more before Olise smashed in France’s second, giving Deschamps’ side some breathing room.
The captain eventually got his brace late on, poking home from close range for the 400th goal of his career and his 55th for France — moving him within striking distance of Olivier Giroud’s national record of 57.
And with the clock winding down, Mbappé turned provider, sliding the ball across for Ekitike, who finished coolly through Trubin’s legs to net his first for France and put the icing on a dominant night for Les Bleus.
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