Mbappe brace, 18 World Cup goals and counting: France destroy Sweden 3-0 as the record chase goes up a gear

Kylian Mbappe is chasing history and France are through. A 3-0 demolition of Sweden at MetLife Stadium sends Les Bleus into the Round of 16 with a brace from their captain, taking his World Cup goal tally to 18 and closing in on Lionel Messi's all-time record of 22. France will face Paraguay on July 4. Sweden, who rode their luck to make the knockout stage, had no answer for a team that was simply on another level from the opening minute. For all the latest, follow the football news.

Mbappe opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time with his fifth goal of the tournament. Ousmane Dembele delivered after a corner, Mbappe was in space, and the finish was clinical. The goal that had been ruled out earlier in the first half for offside had frustrated him; this one stood, and he celebrated with the conviction of a man who knew what he was building toward this tournament. Sweden had kept him quiet for 44 minutes. They could not do it for one more.

Bradley Barcola made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute, Michael Olise the architect, finding the PSG striker with a pass that cut through Sweden's defensive shape. France were utterly dominant in possession and in intent, pressing high, rotating quickly, punishing every moment of hesitation from a Swedish side that had looked organised in the group stage but simply could not handle this level of quality.

Mbappe got his second in the 75th minute. Olise again, another brilliant assist. The ball found Mbappe in the channel and he did the rest. Career goal number 18 at a World Cup. He needs four more to equal Messi, who set the record at the 2022 edition in Qatar. That number feels reachable. France have three games to play before a potential final, and Mbappe is in the form of his tournament life.

The record chase is now the story that surrounds every France game, which is both a burden and a privilege for a player who has spent years accepting both. He has handled it tonight with the kind of performance that quiets the noise. Two goals, a dominant display from the team around him, and a place in the last 16 as the clear favourites to go deep. Paraguay, who eliminated Germany on penalties, are next. That tie will tell us more about how far France are willing to go. For all the World Cup updates as the Round of 16 takes shape, follow the football news.