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Kylian Mbappe once again proved why he is one of world football's biggest stars, scoring once and setting up another goal as defending champions France defeated Morocco 2-0 to book their place in a third consecutive FIFA World Cup semifinal.

Despite missing an early penalty, Mbappe recovered brilliantly to inspire Didier Deschamps' side to a comfortable victory at Gillette Stadium, keeping France's hopes of retaining the World Cup title alive. Mbappe Breaks the Deadlock

France dominated possession and created the better chances throughout the contest but had to wait until the 60th minute to break Morocco's stubborn resistance.

After seeing his first-half penalty brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Mbappe made amends with a stunning curling strike that found the far corner to hand France a deserved lead.

The goal shifted momentum firmly in France's favour as Morocco struggled to contain the relentless attacking pressure.

Just six minutes after opening the scoring, Mbappe turned provider.

The France captain slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Ousmane Dembele, who calmly slotted a low finish past Bounou from the edge of the penalty area to make it 2-0.

The second goal effectively sealed the result, allowing France to control the remainder of the match with confidence.

The defending champions were the superior side throughout the encounter, creating numerous scoring opportunities while limiting Morocco's attacking threat.

Young talents Desire Doue and Michael Olise were lively in attack, while substitute Bradley Barcola also tested the Moroccan defence.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou prevented an even heavier defeat with several impressive saves, while France goalkeeper Mike Maignan had relatively little to do despite efforts from Azzedine Ounahi and El Aynaoui.

Morocco's closest opportunity came when Dayot Upamecano's attempted clearance narrowly flew over his own crossbar. ALSO READ: "Despicable woman": Mbappe hits back at racist insults from Paraguay senator

The victory added another chapter to Mbappe's remarkable World Cup career.

The France captain scored his 20th goal in just 20 World Cup appearances, while his assist for Dembele saw him become the first player to record 10 or more direct goal contributions in two different FIFA World Cup editions.

Earlier in the tournament, Mbappe had already become France's all-time leading World Cup goalscorer.

With the result comfortably secured, coach Didier Deschamps substituted Mbappe late in the game, with the forward receiving a standing ovation from the fans.

The win sends France into their third successive World Cup semifinal and keeps them on course for another world title.

Les Bleus will now face either Spain or Belgium for a place in the final as they chase their fourth World Cup final appearance in the last eight editions of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Morocco's impressive campaign came to an end after another memorable World Cup run. The Atlas Lions once again demonstrated their growing strength on the international stage, further boosting confidence ahead of co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.