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France head coach Didier Deschamps has declared Kylian Mbappé is "100%" fit and prepared to lead the side in their World Cup semifinal clash against Spain on Tuesday.
Mbappé was forced off with 15 minutes left in the quarterfinal win over Morocco and later acknowledged he had suffered a knock to the ankle, though he was quick to downplay the injury.
Nevertheless, concerns about his availability resurfaced on Monday when Mbappé kept his distance from the main group during the opening phase of a public training session. French media reports suggest he is still experiencing some discomfort.
"Kylian is doing well," Deschamps insisted, before being pressed on whether he harbored any concerns about Mbappé's physical state.
"Is that because you're going by what you saw this afternoon [in training]? Did you read the reports? Yes, he trained. He has every right, like anyone else, to do 15 minutes on a drill rather than 20."
Mbappé Cannot Afford Day Off in Golden Boot Battle
If Mbappé is truly at full fitness, as Deschamps insists, it would be the best possible news for French supporters ahead of such a high-stakes encounter against Spain.
Mbappé has had a hand in at least one goal in every match this summer and tops the Golden Boot standings with eight strikes, though he is only ahead of Argentina's Lionel Messi by virtue of his three additional assists—one more than the Inter Miami forward.
Messi has been in scintillating form himself and will be eager to add to his goal tally before the tournament concludes, with a semifinal against England on the horizon, followed by either the World Cup final or a third-place playoff.
World Cup Golden Boot Race
Player | Goals Scored |
|---|---|
Kylian Mbappé | 8 |
Lionel Messi | 8 |
Erling Haaland | 7 |
Jude Bellingham | 6 |
Harry Kane | 6 |
Ousmane Dembélé | 5 |
Should Mbappé wish to edge out his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate in the Golden Boot race, he cannot afford any time away from the pitch. Breaking down Spain will be an enormous challenge—Luis de la Fuente's outfit have conceded just once throughout the entire tournament—making every minute of action crucial.
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The Real Madrid striker also has competition breathing down his neck in the Golden Boot standings. Norway's exit means Mbappé will finish above Erling Haaland, but England pair Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are both just two goals back, while France's own Ousmane Dembélé has netted five times.
The planet's finest attackers have undeniably left their mark this summer in a Golden Boot contest that looks set to go right down to the final whistle. While individual honors are not Mbappé's primary concern, he will nonetheless be hoping to claim his second successive World Cup Golden Boot and potentially cement his place as the tournament's all-time top scorer.