Mbappe Makes History as Germany Fall and Norway Surge

Kylian Mbappe wrote his name deeper into World Cup history on Tuesday, scoring twice as France swept Sweden aside 3-0 to advance to the last 16. In doing so, he became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup knockout matches — a record that cements his status as the defining figure of this tournament. France, composed and clinical throughout, will face Paraguay in the next round, a tie that now carries the weight of genuine expectation.

Paraguay's own day was defined by a different kind of significance. Their victory over Germany completed one of the tournament's bigger upsets, sending the four-time world champions home and plunging German football into another period of painful reflection. Jürgen Klopp's name is already circulating as a potential figurehead for whatever rebuilding process follows. Elsewhere, Norway produced a night to remember in Dallas, with Antonio Nusa's brilliant solo effort opening the scoring against Côte d'Ivoire before Erling Haaland sealed it in the 86th minute. They now face Brazil — a last-16 tie that would have seemed improbable a few weeks ago.

Off the pitch, AC Milan moved decisively in the transfer market, signing Gonçalo Ramos from PSG for a reported £60 million club record. Tottenham also broke their own spending ceiling, agreeing an £85 million deal to bring Mateus Fernandes across London from West Ham. And DR Congo's qualification for the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in 52 years — with Yoane Wissa scoring twice against Uzbekistan — provided perhaps the day's most quietly powerful story.