There are penalties and then there are Mbappe penalties. While some players turn into a nervous wreck the moment the referee points to the spot, Kylian Mbappe treats it like he is popping to the fridge for a snack. Calm, composed, and absolutely ruthless, he sent Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill the wrong way and tucked the ball home to put France in front. Seven goals at the 2026 World Cup now. Seven. Let that sink in for a moment.
At this point it feels a bit unfair on the rest of the planet, honestly. France were already a team packed with quality from back to front, and then they went and handed the ball to arguably the most dangerous forward on earth and said go on then, do your thing. Mbappe has been doing exactly that throughout this tournament and Paraguay have now felt the full force of it.
Gill had no real chance when you watch it back. Mbappe made his mind up early, kept his run-up smooth, and placed it with the kind of confidence that only comes when you genuinely do not fear the moment. The goalkeeper guessed right in theory but was never going to get there. That is the brutal reality of facing a player at this level.
For France, this is the kind of moment that separates the pretenders from the genuine contenders. Lots of teams have talented players. Not many teams have someone who can carry the weight of a penalty in a World Cup game and make it look like a training ground exercise. Didier Deschamps will know exactly what he has got in his squad and Mbappe is making sure every single opponent knows it too.
Whether France go on to win this World Cup remains to be seen but with Mbappe in this kind of form it would take a brave person to bet against them. Paraguay have their work cut out to get back into this one and France will fancy their chances of kicking on from here.
Let me know your thoughts.