France vs. Morocco player ratings: Live grades for Kylian Mbappe, others in 2026 World Cup quarterfinal
With the expanded, 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup now down to its final eight participants, the first of four semifinalists will be crowned as tournament favorites France will take on African giants Morocco in their quarterfinal from Boston on Thursday.
Read more Stutter-step penalty kicks, explained: Why some players take them and some fans despise them
Kylian Mbappe has been one of the tournament’s most electric superstars, second in goal scoring for the tournament with seven, level with Erling Haaland and one behind leader Lionel Messi.
France have reached the last two World Cup finals, winning in 2018 and losing in 2022, and have not been eliminated in the quarterfinal round since 2014 when they were beaten by eventual champions Germany by a 1-0 score in Brazil.
Morocco, meanwhile, became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals when they progressed to the last four in Qatar 2022, but otherwise had never made it past the Round of 16.
The Sporting News brings you a full list of player ratings for the match, analyzing both team’s individual performances from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.
LIVE: Follow France vs. Morocco updates from 2026 World Cup quarterfinal
France vs. Morocco live score
Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)
Referee: Facundo Tello (ARG)
France starting lineup:
4-2-3-1, right to left: 16. Maignan (GK) — 5. Kounde, 4. Upamecano, 17. Saliba, 3. Digne — 6. Kone (Zaire-Emery, 71′), 14. Rabiot — 7. Dembele, 11. Olise, 20. Doue (Barcola, 78′) — 10. Mbappe (Mateta, 78′).
Morocco starting lineup:
4-2-3-1: Bounou (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 14. Diop, 3. Mazraoui, 26. Salah-Eddine (El Ouahdi, 74′) — 24. El Aynaoui, 6. Bouaddi (Amrabat, 62′) — 10. B. Diaz (Yassine, 74′), 8. Ounahi, 7. Talbi — 23. El Khannouss (Rahimi, 62′).
France player ratings vs. Morocco
All ratings are on a 10-point scale.
Starters
Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan — Grade pending
Had nothing to do in the first half, as Morocco’s first shot didn’t come until the final kick of the period.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Right-back: Jules Kounde — 6
Was a perfect 21-of-21 passing in the first half, but didn’t get forward a ton, as France concentrated most of their attacks on the other flank.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Right Center-back: Dayot Upamecano — 7
Had a great early header on frame but put it too central and made it easy for Yassine Bounou to get in front of.
Watch in USA:
Another big moment in goal for Bono early 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/hiM3szDVgV
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 9, 2026
Upamecano’s presence high up the field made it tough for Morocco to get out of jail, as France strangled the life out of Morocco throughout the entire first half.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Left center-back: William Saliba — 7
Made a few awkward passes, including one where he nearly gifted Morocco a goal early in the match, but composed himself to help Dayot Upamecano in squeezing their opponents high up the pitch.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Left-back: Lucas Digne — 7
Combined very well through the first half with Desire Doue on the left wing, where most of the France attacking moves came from. Smashed a howitzer of a shot off the crossbar in first-half stoppage time.
Watch in USA:
Lucas Digne with a big chance to end the half for France and it’s off the bar 👀 pic.twitter.com/xBwLgp9P0g
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 9, 2026
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Central midfielder: Ismael Kone — 7
Filled in for the injured Aurelien Tchouameni. Very active early on, winning 50/50 balls and coaxing fouls in the middle of the pitch. Made an excellent tackle on Brahim Diaz to stop a Morocco counter on 12 minutes after a bad giveaway by William Saliba.
Finished the first half a stellar 22-of-23 passing, and got involved in the attack somewhat as well.
In the second half, his influence dropped some, but he remained sharp on the ball. Withdrawn in the 71st minute for Warren Zaire-Emery.
Central midfielder: Adrien Rabiot — 8
Had a hideous giveaway on 11 minutes that very nearly let Morocco in on goal but thankfully for him they botched the chance.
However, provided some contribution in possession as France strangled their opponents. Finished the first half a calm 27-of-29 passing, and had five defensive contributions while winning many of his duels. A strong performance.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Right wing: Ousmane Dembele — 7
Was largely invisible in the first half as the attack largely ran either up the gut straight to Kylian Mbappe, or down the left through Desire Doue.
That continued through the hour mark, until Dembele cropped up out of nowhere, charging forward on the ball and taking aim as the Moroccan defenders continued to back-pedal, depositing the ball in the back of the net.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Attacking midfielder: Michael Olise — 7
Opened things up for teammates in the first half by drawing two, three, sometimes even four defenders whenever he got the ball. Wasn’t massively involved on the ball, but managed to provide a dangerous presence for Moroccan defenders to think about.
A sensational move by Olise to carve through three defenders on the turn in the 56th minute nearly opened up a shot for Kylian Mbappe, but the striker was offside.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Left wing: Desire Doue — 8
Had an exceptional first half, causing numerous turnovers high up the field and starting counter-attacks. He picked the pocket of Ayyoub Bouaddi in the 36th minute and forced a huge save out of Yassine Bounou.
Watch in USA:
Bono makes his third save of the match for Morocco 🧤 pic.twitter.com/t5SQnWN2Xm
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 9, 2026
In the second half, Doue remained active with a 55th-minute shot that was too close to the goalkeeper to beat Bounou. His gorgeous little flick to Kylian Mbappe resulted in the opening goal. Was excellent on the day, probably France’s best player on the whole.
Striker: Kylian Mbappe — 7
Was extremely active early on, troubling Moroccan defenders from the opening whistle. He won the penalty which should have opened the scoring, but flubbed it with the stutter-step penalty technique that was horrendous.
To make matters worse, he went immediately to the referee to complain about the long VAR stoppage as if it were the reason he decided to take such a tragically bad penalty. A huge miss in the 56th minute after receiving a great ball from Michael Olise, but he was offside anyways.
His opening goal was stunning, as he received the ball in very little space and buried it in the top corner.
Read more France vs. Morocco referee: Who are match officials and VAR for World Cup quarterfinal?
Watch in USA:
MBAPPÉ SCORES HIS 20TH CAREER FIFA WORLD CUP GOAL 🇫🇷
Kylian Mbappé has matched Messi with 8 goals so far this summer! pic.twitter.com/QRtd42KHsf
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 9, 2026
There was a real worry late as Mbappe was forced off with what looked like a foot injury late, replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta. It didn’t look too serious as he waved to the crowd while walking off, but fans will be concerned until they hear for sure that he is ok.
France substitutes vs. Morocco
71st min — Warren Zaire-Emery: Grade pending
Came on into midfield for Ismael Kone with 20 minutes to go.
78th min — Jean-Philippe Mateta: Grade pending
Came in for a seemingly injured Kylian Mbappe.
78th min — Bradley Barcola: Grade pending
Continued his platoon with Desire Doue, starting the Round of 16 match but coming off the bench today.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and players enter the game off the bench.
France coach vs. Morocco
Didier Deschamps: Grade pending
This section will be updated with commentary and analysis after the match concludes and an appropriate evaluation of the coach’s performance can be assessed.
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Morocco player ratings vs. France
All ratings are on a 10-point scale.
Starters
Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou — 8
Was exceptional all game for Morocco, who were forced to hold on for dear life all through the first half. Made a big save just four minutes into the match as he parried a header by Dayot Upamecano at the back post.
Made a beautiful stop on Kyilan Mbappe’s horrific penalty, holding his ground on the stutter-step and reading the body correctly.
Watch in USA:
Mbappé can’t convert the penalty 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Jf9S4Js5rk
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 9, 2026
Made a third massive stop to deny Desire Doue shortly after the penalty. Probably could have done better on the Ousmane Dembele goal, as he got a fingertip to it, but hard to criticize the goalkeeper on that one
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Right-back: Achraf Hakimi — 7
Got forward in great numbers, as he is known to do. Absolutely launched a 16th-minute free-kick into outer space, a complete waste. Made a great tackle on Kylian Mbappe in the 23rd minute in midfield that started a big move for Morocco, and then raced forward to win a corner on his natural right side. Lost the ball that started the France counter-attack which saw Mbappe win the opening penalty.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Right center-back: Issa Diop — 5
Surprisingly cool under pressure with Noussair Mazraoui next to him. His five defensive contributions in the first half were a game high.
The second half took a turn for the worst from Diop. He was frozen by Kylian Mbappe’s finish on the opening goal, proving little more than a traffic cone for Mbappe to curl the ball around. Then picked up a yellow card shortly after as he tackled Mbappe hard.
Watch in USA:
Issa Diop was shown a yellow for this challenge on Mbappé pic.twitter.com/wkf96VvWG7
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 9, 2026
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Left center-back: Noussair Mazraoui — 4
Started in the middle of defense with the shuffling along the back for this game. Made a truly terrible challenge that resulted in the scoreline-opening penalty, fouling Kylian Mbappe from behind that saw the referee point to the spot.
Watch in USA:
PENALTY AWARDED TO FRANCE 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/DLyMFi1mLG
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 9, 2026
Never stepped to Ousmane Dembele and gave him acres of space to shoot on France’s second goal.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Left-back: Anass Salah-Eddine — 6
A surprise starter at left-back, moving Noussair Mazraoui into the middle. Won a great tackle on Ousmane Dembele in the 23rd minute to stop a very promising move forward.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Central midfielder: Neil El Aynaoui — 4
Struggled mightily throughout the first half with France’s high press, consistently losing possession and giving away four fouls in the first 35 minutes.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Central midfielder: Ayyoub Bouaddi — 5
Was largely a passenger as Morocco struggled to get out of their own half, with France winning the midfield and strangling the life out of the game.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Right wing: Brahim Diaz — 5
Got good volume down the right side that didn’t result in much. Had a gorgeous scoop for Ayyoub Bouaddi in the 24th minute that nearly resulted in a good shot.
Struggled to usher Morocco forward as they got strangled and tried to play on the counter. The majority of his touches were in his own half. Hauled off with 20 minutes to go and Morocco needing two goals, a harsh but fair judgement of his performance.
Attacking midfielder: Azzedine Ounahi — 6
Did his best to will Morocco forward when they had the ball, but had very little help in that regard. Was seen very demonstrative in the tunnel speaking to the rest of his Moroccan teammates, trying to help them turn things around.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Left wing: Chemsdine Talbi — 5
Did a lot of good defensive work, stepping in on 12 minutes to prevent a diagonal cutback that would have resulted in a good shot at the top of the penalty area. Hardly had a touch on the ball, however, as he racked up just 17 touches in the first half, including less than half of those in the attacking half.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Striker: Bilal El Khannouss — 5
Filled in for the injured starter Ismael Saibari by moving from his natural spot on the left wing, and had big shoes to fill given Saibari’s form this tournament. Was quite poor, as he touched the ball all over the field except in the middle of the attack. His 16 first-half touches were scattered all over the pitch except where they needed him the most.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.
Morocco substitutes vs. France
62nd min — Sofyan Amrabat: Grade pending
Came on for teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi with a half-hour to go.
62nd min — Soufiane Rahimi: Grade pending
Was expected to start, but came in off the bench for Bilal El Khannouss at striker with a half-hour to go instead.
74th min — Gessime Yassine: Grade pending
Came on for Brahim Diaz with 15 minutes to go.
74th min — Zakaria El Ouahdi: Grade pending
Came on for spot-starter Anass Salah-Eddine with 15 minutes remaining.
This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and players enter the game off the bench.
Morocco coach vs. France
Mohamed Ouahbi: Grade pending
This section will be updated with commentary and analysis after the match concludes and an appropriate evaluation of the coach’s performance can be assessed.
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