France have advanced to the next round of the FIFA World Cup 2026, becoming the second team to reach the last eight after Morocco. In a dramatic World Cup round-of-16 encounter, France edged past Paraguay 1-0 thanks to a Kylian Mbappe penalty.
The penalty came in the second half in the 70th minute, with the Real Madrid star converting it without a mistake to power his side to the quarterfinals. However, it was not the French superstar who stole the headlines. He was not the one who claimed the Man of the Match award, and it was someone else.
Not Mbappe, THIS star wins Man of the Match award in France vs Paraguay World Cup clash
Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill delivered a heroic performance, making a string of outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest against a dominant France attack. Gill was officially named Man of the Match for his efforts, earning widespread praise for his crucial stops.
The 26-year-old has been a standout for Paraguay throughout the tournament, helping them advance from the group stage and earlier upsetting Germany on penalties. Despite the defeat, Gill’s display highlighted the fighting spirit of the South American underdogs.
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