Kylian Mbappe overshadowed Lionel Messi as France stormed into the WorldCup quarter-finals after a thrilling 4-3 win over Argentina in Kazan.
The Paris Saint-Germain teenager won a 13th-minute penalty for Antoine Griezmann with a storming 75-yard run and scored two goals in five minutes (64, 68) after the break as Didier Deschamps’ side overcame the setback of going behind to claim a convincing victory.
Argentina had hit back through a 30-yard DiMaria strike (41) and a fortuitous flick from Gabriel Mercado three minutes after the restart but they were outplayed for prolonged periods in a game that could be Messi’s last on the global stage.
Benjamin Pavard’s 57th-minute half-volley – his first France goal – sparked the second-half surge and though substitute Sergio Aguero threatened a late twist with an injury-time header, Mbappe’s double proved decisive and set up a last-eight tie against Portugal or Uruguay.
