Unstoppable Mbappe Defies Thunderstorms as France Dismantles Iraq: Player Ratings

In a match that stretched nearly four hours due to weather-related interruptions, France rolled to a comfortable 3–0 victory over Iraq to secure their place in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.

Kylian Mbappé wasted no time extending his brilliant World Cup run, unleashing a fierce strike with his weaker left foot to give Les Bleus the lead in the 14th minute. Heavy rain disrupted play toward the end of the first half before bringing it to a complete standstill for two hours at the interval.

The prolonged break did little to slow down the two-time finalists, as Mbappé added his second within the first 10 minutes after the restart, capitalizing on a disastrous error from Iraq's backline attempting to build from the back. Ousmane Dembélé set up Mbappé's second goal before putting the finishing touch on France's victory with a composed finish to claim his first-ever World Cup goal.

It was a commanding performance from Didier Deschamps' squad, one where they never truly needed to shift into top gear.

France has advanced to the knockout phase of the competition, and with Mbappé firing on all cylinders, Les Bleus remain among the clear frontrunners to lift the trophy.

One Thing We Can't Ignore

Mbappé now has 16 goals across 16 World Cup appearances, maintaining a remarkable one-goal-per-game average in football's grandest stage. Truly extraordinary.

A powerful effort that beat goalkeeper Ahmed Basil got France off to a flying start, and he then added the simplest goal of his World Cup career with a tap-in to double the lead after a shocking defensive lapse from Iraq.

Mbappé now boasts a hat-trick and two braces across his last three World Cup outings, rapidly climbing the all-time scoring charts to draw level with Miroslav Klose on 16 goals as the second-highest scorer in tournament history—a mark that had stood as the outright record heading into the 2026 World Cup.

On a day when Lionel Messi scored twice to push his career total to a World Cup-record 18 goals, Mbappé answered with a brace of his own to close the gap to just two behind the Argentine icon. While Messi continues to defy age and match Mbappé's output in 2026, it feels like only a matter of time before Mbappé stands alone atop the all-time World Cup scoring charts.

There's no need to debate it — Mbappé is already among the greatest players in World Cup history.

France Player Ratings vs. Iraq (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings Provided by FotMob*

GK: Mike Maignan—7.1: Enjoyed a quiet afternoon as his goal was never seriously threatened.

RB: Jules Koundé—7.4: Consistently offered an option down the right flank. No longer a central figure in France's attacking play.

CB: Dayot Upamecano—7.9: Equally commanding at the back, snuffing out any Iraqi threat with ease and rarely wasting a pass from deep.

CB: William Saliba—7.2: Relished the aerial duels whenever Iraq resorted to long balls. A composed and authoritative display from one of the game's elite defenders.

LB: Lucas Digne—7.1: Delivered a few wayward crosses early on before opting for the safe pass in most subsequent involvements. Rarely tested at the defensive end.

CM: Manu Koné—7.3: Called into the starting lineup with Aurélien Tchouaméni sidelined by injury, the AS Roma man did the unglamorous work, putting his body on the line in duels and consistently regaining possession.

CM: Adrien Rabiot—7.2: Understated yet undeniably efficient. Rabiot provides balance to a side that possesses the tournament's most potent attack. He covers the pitch and picks out teammates with minimal fuss. Another dependable showing from a player who thrives without the limelight.

RW: Ousmane Dembélé—8.6: After a slow start, Dembélé contributed a goal and an assist to deliver the standout performance of his international career in major tournaments.

AM: Michael Olise—8.9: Operated as France's primary creative force in the attacking midfield role. Some of his first touches were works of art, and he picked up his second assist of the tournament.

LW: Bradley Barcola—7.5: Provided width down the left side, making relentless runs in behind the defensive line. He received the ball on several occasions but struggled to produce quality in the final third.

ST: Kylian Mbappé—9.2: It took him just 14 minutes to pick up where he left off, rifling home a thunderous left-footed effort. He then wrapped up his brace in the second half, further cementing his extraordinary World Cup legacy.

SUB: Rayan Cherki (68' for Olise)—6.9: Showed glimpses of his exceptional technique and match-changing ability during a short cameo with the result already beyond doubt.

SUB: Désiré Doué (68' for Dembélé)—6.2: Given too little time to leave his mark on the game.

SUB: Malo Gusto (83' for Koundé)—N/A

SUB: Maghnes Akliouche (83' for Barcola)—N/A

SUB: Marcus Thuram (90' for Mbappé)—N/A

Subs not used: Brice Samba (GK), Robin Risser (GK), Ibrahima Konaté, Theo Hernández, Lucas Hernández, Maxence Lacroix, Aurélien Tchouaméni, N'Golo Kanté, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Jean-Philippe Mateta.

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain France's Easy Win

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