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Kylian Mbappe’s stunning 25-yard strike against Iraq has reignited debate over the behaviour of the World Cup ball, as yet another long-range effort found the net despite the goalkeeper appearing in position to save it.

No World Cup seems complete without goalkeepers raising concerns about the movement of the official match ball—and this edition is proving no different.

Mbappe’s opening goal for France against Iraq on Monday night was the latest example of a powerful shot hit at a height that should have been manageable for the goalkeeper, yet it slipped past despite a hand getting to it.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart is now even more convinced that the ball being used at this year’s World Cup is creating a specific difficulty for goalkeepers.

Speaking on BBC Sport, Hart said: “I’ve seen this type of goal far too often for a World Cup—it can’t just be coincidence, there’s definitely something going on with that football.”

He continued: “It’s when the ball is struck around shoulder height… when players aren’t using the curling technique—when the ball isn’t spinning or moving—the goalkeepers are really struggling.”

Analysing Mbappe’s strike, Hart added: “He gets the ball out of his feet quickly, there are a few defenders in the way so that makes it harder for Ahmed [Basil], but from the moment it’s hit, he can see it clearly. Watch the ball’s path—it doesn’t curl or dip unnaturally.”

“That shot isn’t right in the corner—and I’m not criticising the keeper, because I’ve seen this happen to Mendy, Zidane, Pickford—they just can’t seem to get their timing right with this World Cup ball when it’s hit above shoulder height without curl.”

Hart continued: “He’s got enough time, and at this level, a World Cup goalkeeper should be able to take a step and dive, but it feels like the shot reaches him before he’s ready to react.”

“I was talking to Gael [Clichy] during the first half, saying, ‘How often at top level do you see a keeper get a touch on the ball but still concede?’ It’s rare, because normally if they get contact, they push it wide.”

“But in this tournament, I’ve noticed keepers are getting touches on shots above shoulder height and still can’t keep them out—so something’s definitely up.”

Earlier in the tournament, Hart had shared similar thoughts: “I’m noticing it with the higher shots, those aimed at the top corners.”

“Honestly, it feels like this ball reaches the goalkeepers faster than they expect after it’s struck.”

Referring to one of Croatia’s goals against England, Hart explained: “You can see Jordan Pickford launch himself at the ball, but he just doesn’t manage to stop it.”

“People might ask, ‘Why did he go with his thumb instead of his full hand?’ It’s because the ball gets to him faster than he anticipates.”

Hart also compared this to Mbappe’s earlier goal against Senegal’s Edouard Mendy: “As the ball leaves Mbappe’s foot, it’s a strong hit, but Mendy is a Champions League-winning goalkeeper—he simply doesn’t time his reaction properly. These are world-class keepers at World Cup level.”

He even mentioned Lionel Messi’s long-range goal against Algeria’s Luca Zidane: “When Messi hits it, it’s a good strike but not unstoppable—Zidane is more than capable of saving that. Yet again, he doesn’t time it right, the ball gets to him before his hands are in position, and he ends up pushing at it instead of tipping it over.”

“I think as the tournament progresses and goalkeepers adjust to the atmosphere, the pace of the game, and the characteristics of this World Cup football, we’ll start seeing more of those shots being saved,” Hart concluded.