PHILADELPHIA — Kylian Mbappe knows Lionel Messi is not slowing down, even if it’s his last World Cup.
“We already knew that Messi would continue to score goals,” Mbappe said on Sunday. “He always does that. He is ahead of me and I am behind him. I will continue to score goals so that the national team can go as far as possible.”
Those sentiments proved true on Monday as both teams France and Argentina put on a show.
Hours after Messi broke the all-time World Cup scoring record with a brace in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria, Mbappe scored his second goal of the tournament, leading France to a 3-0 clean sheet victory over Iraq. Mbappé’s heroic performance helped France advance to the final round of the World Cup for the fourth time in a row.
After the victory, France midfielder Manu Kone said of Mbappé, “It’s a luxury to have a player like Kylian.”
This time, Mbappe did not wait until the second half to score his first goal of the match in the 14th minute. Taking the ball up the left sideline, the Real Madrid forward passed the ball to Michael Orisse, who recovered it and slotted the ball into the top left corner of the goal from 18 yards outside the box.
Interestingly, this was Mbappé’s second goal in World Cup history in the first half. Mbappe has scored 13 of his 14 World Cup goals in the second half on Monday, his last in the first half coming against Peru at the 2018 World Cup.
Mbappe’s second goal came in the 66th minute, following some disastrous play from Iraq. Defender Zaid Tahseen tried to pass the goal kick to Ahmed Bashir, but the Iranian goalkeeper was not caught off guard and the ball was picked up by France’s Ousmane Dembele, who crossed it back to Mbappé in front of the net.
Mbappe’s goal brought him within two goals of Messi for the World Cup record. Mbappe, who became France’s all-time leading scorer in the opening game against Senegal, is tied with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the second-highest number of goals at the World Cup with 16 goals.
France defender Jules Kounde said of Mbappé: “It’s unbelievable.” “All we can do is smile and congratulate him. I hope he scores more goals because, to be honest, I know everyone thinks so, but we want him to break records.”
Mbappé has scored four goals in two World Cup matches and is nine goals shy of tying France’s Juste Fontaine’s record for most goals scored in a single FIFA Men’s World Cup, having scored 13 goals in six matches at the 1958 World Cup.
“I’m not thinking about that right now. It’s important right now to create a team environment where we can find our footing at critical moments and be confident in our strengths,” Mbappe said. “…We know that the more the competition goes on, the tougher the challenges will be. And it’s going to be very difficult because to win the World Cup you have to beat everyone.”
Nevertheless, both stars’ performances on Monday were exceptional. Mbappe’s night in particular begs the question of whether he will tie or break the record at this, his last World Cup, and whether he will be able to have a long career like Messi and Ronaldo and take it to the next level.
France manager Didier Deschamps does not know if the 27-year-old Mbappé will have as long a career as Messi (39 this week) or Ronaldo (41), but admitted he will give his star a chance as long as he is healthy and on the field.
Deschamps said: “Records are meant to be broken. Now he has an iconic record. He has always scored goals. He will score (more) goals.” “I don’t know if Kylian will be able to play up to his age, but as long as he feels right on the pitch, he will score a lot of goals.
“He has the ability to increase his value every time he breaks his own record.”
France will aim to take control of Group I with a victory over Norway on Friday at 3pm ET at Gillette Stadium in Boston.
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