Former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas applauded Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou for saving Kylian Mbappe's first-half pernalty in the first quater-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Boston Stadium, Foxborough, on Thursday (July 9).

In a hard-fought first half, Noussair Mazraoui brought down Mbappe after struggling to live up with the Frenchman's pace on the break. However, it took about three minutes before Mbappe stepped up for the penalty, with VAR checking for a potential foul in the build-up.

That delay probably didn't help the Real Madrid striker, whose stuttering run-up followed by a low effort to the right was comfortably saved by a diving Bono to keep the score goalless. It was only the second miss in 16 spot-kick attempts by Mbappe for Les Bleus.

Casillas tweeted in appreciation of Bono's effort:

As per FA, Bono has let in only two of nine penalties at the FIFA World Cup, including shootouts, saving four, while three were off-target.

In the shootout win over the Netherlands in the Round of 32, after Justin Kluivert had missed the target, Teun Koopmeiners and Wout Weghorst scored past Bono, before the Atlas Lions custodian kept out Crysencio Summerville after Quinten Timber had fired wide.

Bono had saved two of Spain's three spot-kicks in the Atlas Lions' 3-0 shoout win over the 2010 champions in the Round of 16 at Qatar 2022.

Atoning for his first-half penalty miss, France captain Kylian Mbappe produced a marvellous curling finish from a crowded penalty box on the cusp of the hour mark against Morocco.

It was the Frenchman's 20th career goal at the FIFA World Cup, taking him to eight goals for this edition and back atop the Golden Boot leaderboard. The strike marked the 12th time Mbappe scored in the knockouts - four more than any other player.

Six minutes after Kylian Mbappe's strike, Ousmane Dembele also got on the scoresheet, with the reigning Ballon d'Or winner scoring his fifth goal of the tournament to put Les Bleus within touching distance of a place in the last four.

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