French footballer set to spearhead France's attack at the 2026 World Cup as captain despite recent injury.
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The Namibian
Kylian Mbappe was replaced by head coach Didier Deschamps at half-time
“Kylian Mbappe had been hoping to break Olivier Giroud's record of 57 goals for Les Bleus in what was his 97th appearance for his country but had a fruitless evening and was replaced by head coach Didier Deschamps at half-time, leaving him stuck on 56 goals in second place.”
Diallo gives Ivory Coast shock win over FranceThe Namibian
Kylian Mbappe swept home from outside the area for Real's third, 25th goal of season
“La Liga's top goalscorer Kylian Mbappe swept home from outside the area for Real's third, his 25th goal of the season in the top flight.”
Real Madrid end troubled Liga season with win, Mallorca, Girona downThe Namibian
Kylian Mbappe will face Senegal on June 16 in World Cup opener
“The Lions of Teranga will begin their campaign on June 16 against Kylian Mbappe's France in New Jersey.”
Senegal have ‘big dreams’ for 2026 World CupThe Namibian
Kylian Mbappe complained he had been told by coach Alvaro Arbeloa he was Madrid's fourth forward
“After Kylian Mbappe complained midweek he had been told by coach Alvaro Arbeloa he was Madrid's "fourth forward" after he came on as a substitute against Real Oviedo, the French superstar started against Sevilla.”
Sevilla safe despite Real Madrid defeat, Mallorca on brinkThe Namibian
Kylian Mbappe has 24 goals, leading the top scorer standings by two from Vedat Muriqi
“The French forward has 24 goals, leading Mallorca target man Vedat Muriqi by just two, with two games remaining.”
Five things to look out for in La Liga this weekendThe Namibian
Kylian Mbappe will spearhead France at the World Cup
“Kylian Mbappe will spearhead France at the World Cup after coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday announced his 26-man squad for this summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.”
Mbappe, Dembele head up France squad for 2026 World CupThe Namibian
Kylian Mbappe may not be able to be involved after a thigh injury
“They are waiting to see if top goalscorer Kylian Mbappe can be involved after a thigh injury, while Vinicius Junior is expected to lead the line for Los Blancos.”
History chasing Barca eye title party in Liga ClasicoThe Namibian
Kylian Mbappe had goal chalked off for offside in second half
“On an otherwise quiet night for the league's top goalscorer, Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe polished off Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross early in the second half but his goal was chalked off for offside.”
Betis’ Bellerin further dents Real Madrid title hopesThe Namibian
Kylian Mbappe had his arm caught in the face by Girona defender Vitor Reis in a disputed penalty incident
“Los Blancos were upset by a late penalty appeal not given after Girona defender Vitor Reis' arm caught Madrid's Kylian Mbappe in the face.”
Real Madrid title hopes dented by Girona drawThe Namibian
Kylian Mbappe scored goal for Real Madrid 16 minutes from time
“Kylian Mbappe's strike 16 minutes from time gave record 15-time winners Real a lifeline at their Bernabeu home in a gripping battle.”
Diaz, Kane give Bayern Champions League edge at Real MadridAmad Diallo scored a late winner as Ivory Coast stunned France 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up match in Nantes on Thursday. Kylian Mbappe had a fruitless evening and was replaced at half-time, remaining stuck on 56 goals for France.
5 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Amad Diallo scored a late winner as Ivory Coast stunned France 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up match in Nantes on Thursday. Kylian Mbappe had a fruitless evening and was replaced at half-time, remaining stuck on 56 goals for France.
5 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Arsenal are attempting to win their first Champions League trophy by facing defending champion Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday. PSG, who won the trophy 14 years after Qatar Sports Investments took over the club, are favourites to defend after Luis Enrique rebuilt the side following the departures of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe, while Arsenal are returning to Europe's biggest stage for the first time since their 2006 final loss to Barcelona.
29 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Paris Saint-Germain, after winning their maiden Champions League title last year by defeating Inter Milan 5-0, face Arsenal in Budapest aiming to retain the trophy. Manager Luis Enrique's side are favourites and have proven difficult to stop, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia describing the team as capable of beating any opponent when they play their way.
27 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Brazil, hunting their first World Cup title in 24 years, face Morocco—semi-finalists in 2022—and Scotland in Group C, with new coach Carlo Ancelotti tasked with optimizing an unbalanced squad featuring strong defensive options but clear gaps at full-back, midfield, and centre-forward.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid ended their La Liga season with a 4-2 win over Athletic Bilbao. Mallorca and Girona were relegated from the Spanish top flight despite Mallorca's 3-0 victory over already-relegated Real Oviedo.
24 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Coach Pape Thiaw unveiled a 28-man Senegal squad for the 2026 World Cup, featuring established stars including Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy alongside emerging talent. Senegal will begin their Group I campaign on June 16 against France in New Jersey, also facing Norway and Iraq.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Vinicius Junior scored as Real Madrid won 1-0 at Sevilla on Sunday, but Sevilla secured safety from relegation through other results. Mallorca, 19th after losing 2-0 to Levante, and Girona, 18th after a 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid, are in danger of relegation.
17 May 2026 · The Namibian →
With Barcelona already crowned champions, La Liga's penultimate round focuses on other matters, including Antoine Griezmann's farewell at Atlético Madrid and a tight relegation battle involving multiple teams between 10th and 19th place, with only Real Oviedo guaranteed to go down.
15 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Coach Didier Deschamps announced France's squad for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Kylian Mbappe set to spearhead the attack and likely captain the team despite a recent thigh injury. The squad includes attacking talent such as Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Michael Olise, alongside defensive players including William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano.
15 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Barcelona secured their 29th Spanish league title after defeating Real Madrid 2-0 in the Clasico on Sunday, clinching La Liga in consecutive years and moving 14 points clear of second-place Madrid with three matches remaining.
10 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Barcelona, leading by 11 points, host Real Madrid on Sunday needing only a draw to clinch a second consecutive La Liga title. A victory could help them set records with a potential 100 points and 33 victories if they win their final four matches.
8 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Vinicius Junior scored twice as Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-0 on Sunday, postponing Barcelona's chance to be crowned Spanish champions. Barcelona lead by 11 points with four matches remaining and will next attempt to claim their 29th league title when they host Real Madrid in a week.
4 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Betis drew 1-1 with Real Madrid on Friday in La Liga, with Hector Bellerin scoring a late equaliser to cancel out Vinicius Junior's 17th-minute opener. Barcelona provisionally leads Madrid by eight points after the result.
25 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Bayern Munich defeated Real Madrid 4-3 on Wednesday to secure a 6-4 aggregate victory and advance to the Champions League semi-finals, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain. Late goals from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise sealed Bayern's progress after the match remained competitive throughout, with Real Madrid reduced to ten men following Eduardo Camavinga's second yellow card.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid drew 1-1 at home against Girona in La Liga, with Fede Valverde's goal cancelled out by Thomas Lemar's strike, leaving Madrid six points behind Barcelona with seven matches remaining. Coach Arbeloa disputed a late penalty appeal involving Kylian Mbappe and complained about VAR's consistency, while Madrid prepare for a Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich on Wednesday with the title race appearing secondary to their European ambitions.
11 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Paris Saint-Germain defeated Liverpool 2-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg, with goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, giving the holders a significant advantage heading into next week's return at Anfield. Liverpool, playing in a defensive three-man shape and without Mohamed Salah in the lineup, spent much of the match on the back foot against a dominant PSG side.
9 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Luis Diaz and Harry Kane scored to give Bayern Munich a 2–1 victory at Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, though Kylian Mbappe's second-half goal kept the tie open ahead of next week's return match in Munich.
8 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Desire Doue scored twice as France beat Colombia 3-1 in a friendly in the United States on Sunday, with captain Kylian Mbappe limited to a late substitute appearance. The victory gave France a second win over South American opposition in four days as preparation for the World Cup.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Paris St Germain defender Marquinhos will miss Brazil's friendly against France in Boston but may return for the next friendly against Croatia. Coach Carlo Ancelotti said the match offers a chance to evaluate three new centre-backs ahead of the World Cup.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid defeated Elche 4-1 in La Liga on Saturday, with goals from Antonio Rudiger, Fede Valverde, Dean Huijsen, and Arda Guler. The victory moves Los Blancos within one point of Barcelona at the top of La Liga ahead of the Catalans' match against Sevilla.
15 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Federico Valverde scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, while PSG beat Chelsea 5-2 and Arsenal drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen.
12 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Lamine Yamal's stoppage-time penalty rescues Barcelona from defeat, earning a 1-1 draw at Newcastle in a Champions League last 16 first leg. After Harvey Barnes put Newcastle ahead in the 86th minute, Yamal converted from the spot following a foul on Dani Olmo, leaving Barcelona with work to do in the return fixture on March 18.
11 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Federico Valverde's heavily deflected 95th-minute shot secured a 2-1 La Liga win for Real Madrid at Celta Vigo on Friday, pulling them within one point of Barcelona. The Spanish giants played with 10 injured players, including French striker Kylian Mbappe, and manager Alvaro Arbeloa said he hoped the victory could mark a turning point after two consecutive league defeats.
7 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Vinicius Junior scored the decisive goal as Real Madrid defeated Benfica 2–1 in the Champions League knockout play-off on Wednesday, progressing 3–1 on aggregate. The match followed a racism incident in the first leg involving Vinicius and Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, who remains banned pending a UEFA investigation.
26 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Osasuna on Saturday in La Liga after Raul Garcia's 90th-minute goal, a significant blow to their title hopes as Barcelona trail by just two points. Atletico Madrid bounced back from a four-game winless streak with a 4-2 victory over Espanyol to strengthen their grip on fourth place.
22 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Vinicius Junior's 50th-minute curled finish secured Real Madrid a 1-0 Champions League play-off first leg victory at Benfica, though the match was halted as officials applied racism protocol after the Brazilian complained of alleged abuse. Benfica coach José Mourinho was sent off in the final stages, and Madrid will face Benfica again next week at the Santiago Bernabéu.
18 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Goals from Álvaro Carreras and Kylian Mbappé gave Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Valencia on Sunday, narrowing the gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona to one point. Madrid had to do without suspended Vinícius Junior and injured Jude Bellingham, with Trent Alexander-Arnold making his return from injury as a substitute.
9 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa and striker Kylian Mbappe both emphasize the need for consistency as the team prepares to face Valencia in La Liga, with Arbeloa stressing that hard work rather than magic is required to turn around recent inconsistent performances.
7 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Kylian Mbappe scored a brace as Real Madrid defeated Villarreal 2-0 on Saturday, moving the club two points clear atop La Liga. The win marked Madrid's third consecutive victory under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
25 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Vinicius Junior's resurgent form, highlighted by a dominant display in Real Madrid's 6-1 Champions League win over Monaco, has lifted the team ahead of a crucial La Liga clash with Villarreal where victory could move them top of the table. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa has backed the Brazilian winger publicly, and Vinicius has credited the fans' support for his return to form after a lengthy scoring drought.
23 January 2026 · The Namibian →