Kylian Mbappé scores his eighth goal of the World Cup, equaling Lionel Messi for the tournament lead

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Kylian Mbappé is keeping pace with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot at the World Cup.

Mbappé made up for missing a first-half penalty in France’s 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Morocco on Thursday by scoring a goal in the 60th minute. It was his eighth goal of the tournament, equal with Messi for the tournament lead and one ahead of Norway forward Erling Haaland.

Norway plays England in the quarterfinals on Saturday, and Messi will lead Argentina against Switzerland later that night.

Mbappé had a chance from the spot after drawing a foul from Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui in the box in the 28th minute. But goalkeeper Yassine Bounou guessed correctly, diving to his left to stop the attempt.

The Real Madrid forward delivered in the second half for the two-time World Cup champions when he dribbled into the area and let loose a rocket that went just inside the post.

Ousmane Dembélé scored six minutes later to give France a 2-0 lead. Mbappé was taken off in the 77th minute, turning and waving with both hands to the Gillette Stadium crowd as he walked off the field for a substitute.

Mbappé also moved one behind Messi on the all-time World Cup scoring list, with 20 goals in 20 matches. Messi has 21 goals in 31 career World Cup matches over six tournaments, breaking the record of 16 that had been held by Germany striker Miroslav Klose.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

France's Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates after teammate Ousmane Dembele scored their second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match against Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell) CORRECTION: Corrects to team's second goal, not first and goal scorer to France's Ousmane Dembele, not Kylian Mbappe.

France's Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

France's Kylian Mbappe (10) waves as he is subbed out of the game during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

France's Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian authorities said on Thursday they have arrested several suspects accused of a string of recent explosions in Damascus, including the bombings during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit earlier this week.

An official with Syria's Internal Security Forces said the Islamic State group was behind the bombings. The extremist group has not claimed the attacks.

Security forces carried out raids in the Syrian capital and the surrounding areas, and “succeeded in dismantling the entire cell responsible” for the bombings, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Brig. Gen. Ahmad al-Dalati, Internal Security Forces' commander for the rural Damascus province, later told state television that the suspects were part of an IS-affiliated cell. He said investigators had been able to identify one member of the cell after reviewing security camera footage and tracked him to identify the other suspects.

On Tuesday, explosive devices were planted in a garbage bin and a parked car during Macron's landmark visit to Syria, a country rebuilding from years of civil war. Macron, who was in the presidential palace when the blasts happened, was not harmed and continued with his meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The explosions killed one person and wounded 36 others, according to the final casualty toll announced by Syria's Ministry of Health.

Last week, an explosive device detonated in a cafe near Damascus' main judicial complex, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 20.

The explosions are a challenge to al-Sharaa, who has pushed to assert full control over Syria. He has appealed to minorities skeptical of his government's Islamist-led rule and sought to win support of Western governments concerned about his past leadership of the formerly al-Qaida-linked group known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

His government has promised political and economic reform after decades of autocratic rule of the Assad family, which ended when former President Bashar Assad was ousted in an insurgent offensive in December 2024 led by al-Sharaa.

The nearly 14-year civil war in Syria killed nearly half a million people and displaced millions, leaving much devastation and infrastructure in ruins. While other nations and businesses have made large investment pledges, the country still needs hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild and lift millions out of poverty.

Syrian security personnel inspect a burned vehicle near the Four Seasons Hotel after two explosions rocked the area earlier while Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was meeting French President Emmanuel Macron at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Syrian security personnel inspect a burned vehicle near the Four Seasons Hotel after two explosions rocked the area earlier while Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was meeting French President Emmanuel Macron at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)