New Delhi: As Morocco crashes out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 2-0 defeat from France, the former’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, etched his name into history, saving four penalties, including shoot-outs, at this edition of the tournament. With this, he made the most joint saves by any goalkeeper in the world’s biggest football tournament.
The latest save from Bounou, also known as Bono, came during Friday’s quarter-final clash, where he denied Kylian Mbappe’s penalty in the first half. The French talismanic striker took a stutter run-up before trying to place it on the bottom corner, but Bounou guessed it right and grabbed the ball to deny France an early lead.
“I shot the ball, and the goalkeeper saved it; I didn’t execute it well. But things started getting complicated before that, because the referee initially told me there was a penalty. I asked him if he had definitively confirmed the call, and he replied yes.” Mbappe said.
This also marked the first time Mbappe had missed a penalty during regular time in his World Cup career.
The save kept Morocco’s hopes alive momentarily and underscored Bounou’s growing reputation as one of the tournament’s standout performers. However, France’s dynamic duo of Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele outclassed the Moroccan defenders to score twice in the second half, taking Les Bleus to the semi-finals.
Also read: Mbappe & Dembele match incredible Brazilian scoring feat in 2026 FIFA World Cup
‘Great goalkeeper, wonderful person’
Despite the loss, the 34-year-old’s record—having conceded just two of the 12 penalties he has faced across Morocco’s last three major tournament shootouts—highlights his composure under pressure. He has joined the legendary list of goalkeepers who saved four penalties through the tournament. They are Harald Schumacher (then West Germany; in 1982 and 1986); Sergio Goycochea (Argentina; in 1990); Danijel Subasic (Croatia; in 2018); and Dominik Livakovic (Croatia; in 2022).
Bounou’s journey to this stage has been remarkable. In the 2022 World Cup as well, he was instrumental to Morocco’s historic run to the semifinals, saving two penalties in the shootout victory over Spain. His form has carried into 2026, where Morocco once again defied expectations with a compact defensive setup and clinical counter-attacks.
The technique behind his saves has become a talking point. Bounou’s ability to read shooters, combined with quick reflexes and positioning, has made him an effective goalie at stopping penalties.
French defender Jules Kounde appreciated his former teammate.
“Bono is a great goalkeeper, an outstanding one. But above all, he is a wonderful person. Honestly, what he has achieved deserves all the praise. What he has given to the Moroccan national team has been truly immense,” he said.
With his World Cup tally now standing alongside legendary keepers, Bounou has cemented his status on the global stage. Whether in club football with Al-Hilal or future international duty, his penalty-stopping prowess will be remembered as one of the defining stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For Morocco, he remains the ultimate guard between the sticks.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)