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Rabat –Â Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made World Cup history against France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first goalkeeper ever to save four penalties in the tournament’s history.
Bounou’s historic moment came in the first half of Morocco’s quarter-final clash against France, when he denied French star Kylian Mbappé from the penalty spot, preventing Les Bleus from taking the lead.
Breaking Down the Four Historic Saves
Bounou has been Morocco’s hero across two different World Cups, characterized by his trademark composure, psychological dominance, and exceptional lateral reflexes. Here are the four penalties he has saved on the world stage:
- Carlos Soler (Spain, 2022): Saved during the penalty shootout to help Morocco beat Spain.
- Sergio Busquets (Spain, 2022): Another huge shootout save that sent Morocco to their first-ever quarterfinal.
- Crysencio Summerville (Netherlands, 2026): Saved in a penalty shootout earlier in this tournament to keep Morocco alive.
- Kylian Mbappé (France, 2026): Saved during regular game time to break the all-time world record.
Stopping Kylian Mbappé
France was attacking hard early in the game. In the 25th minute, French captain Kylian Mbappé ran into the box and was tripped by Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui. The referee called a penalty.
Mbappé stepped up to take the kick in the 28th minute. But Bounou showed no fear. He stayed calm, guessed perfectly, and dove to his left to block the ball. The Moroccan fans in the stadium went wild!
This was the first time Kylian Mbappé has ever missed a penalty during regular time in his World Cup career. Bounou proved once again why he is the king of penalties.
