France beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina 4-3 in a thrilling last 16 World Cup match on Saturday as teenager Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in a superb performance in Kazan.
Mbappe, 19, struck twice within minutes in the second half to put France 4-2 ahead and although Sergio Aguero gave the French a late scare with a goal in injury-time they held on.
In what might well turn out to be Messi’s last match for Argentina or at the World Cup – he will be 35 by the time the next showpiece event comes around – football’s next big thing announced his arrival at the grandest stage. For the uninitiated, welcome to Kylian Mbappe, who is often compared to the great Pele and he emulated him by becoming the first since teenager to score twice in a knockout game at the World Cup, since the Brazilian legend did it at Seden 1958.
Truth be told, it was not a game to remember for Messi, who still finished with two assists despite not being at his best.
The Argentinians were picked apart from a vibrant, youthful, pacy French team and Mbappe was at the heart of it all.
His tremendous performance sent social media into a tizzy.
Messi, who’s World Cup dream appears to be over, brought out some mixed emotions. There was criticism, of course, but most felt sad that he won’t win football’s greatest tournament.
And we’ll just leave you with this... the photo of the night. Out with the old, in with the new?
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