France vs. Morocco player ratings: Live grades for Kylian Mbappe, others in 2026 World Cup quarterfinal

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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.

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, 14. Rabiot — 7. Dembele, 11. Olise, 20. Doue — 10. Mbappe.

Morocco starting lineup:

4-2-3-1: Bono (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 14. Diop, 3. Mazraoui, 26. Salah-Eddine — 24. El Aynaoui, 6. Bouaddi — 10. B. Diaz, 8. Ounahi, 7. Talbi — 9. Rahimi.

France player ratings vs. Morocco

All ratings are on a 10-point scale.

Starters

Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan — Grade pending

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Right-back: Jules Kounde — Grade pending

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 — Grade pending

Had a great early header on frame but put it too central and made it easy for Yassine Bono 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

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 — Grade pending

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Left-back: Lucas Digne — Grade pending

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Central midfielder: Ismael Kone — Grade pending

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.

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Central midfielder: Adrien Rabiot — Grade pending

Had a hideous giveaway on 11 minutes that very nearly let Morocco in on goal but thankfully for him they botched the chance.

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Right wing: Ousmane Dembele — Grade pending

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Attacking midfielder: Michael Olise — Grade pending

Opened things up for teammates in the first half by drawing two, three, sometimes even four defenders whenever he got the ball.

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Left wing: Desire Doue — Grade pending

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.

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Striker: Kylian Mbappe — Grade pending

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.

Watch in USA:

Mbappé can’t convert the penalty 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Jf9S4Js5rk

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 9, 2026

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.

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

France substitutes vs. Morocco

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.

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

Morocco player ratings vs. France

All ratings are on a 10-point scale.

Starters

Goalkeeper: Yassine Bono — Grade pending

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. Made a third massive stop to deny Desire Doue shortly after the penalty.

Watch in USA:

Bono makes his third save of the match for Morocco 🧤 pic.twitter.com/t5SQnWN2Xm

— 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.

Right-back: Achraf Hakimi — Grade pending

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 — Grade pending

Surprisingly cool under pressure with Noussair Mazraoui next to him.

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 — Grade pending

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

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 — Grade pending

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 — Grade pending

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 — Grade pending

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Right wing: Brahim Diaz — Grade pending

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.

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Attacking midfielder: Azzedine Ounahi — Grade pending

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Left wing: Chemsdine Talbi — Grade pending

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.

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Striker: Soufiane Rahimi — Grade pending

Filled in for the injured starter Ismael Saibari, and had big shoes to fill given Saibari's form this tournament.

This section will be updated with commentary, analysis, and highlights as the match continues and the player logs his performance.

Morocco substitutes vs. France

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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