Classic 3️⃣ points: Wondergoals and Mbappé outshines Messi in epic | OneFootball

There may be no live football but FIFA are treating us to some classic World Cup clashes each weekend. And Saturday’s was a stunner.

France edged a seven-goal thriller against a poor Argentina side to head into the World Cup quarter-finals.

Here are our three points on the match …

Mbappé is made for the biggest stage

He exploded at Monaco in 2016/17 and his first season with PSG brought 21 goals in all competitions. But this was Mbappé’s biggest ‘coming of age’ moment so far.

Up against Lionel Messi, the talk was all about the world’s greatest and his potential heir. In Kazan, it looks like Mbappé is already ready to take the crown.

A fearless youngster, Mbappé has incredible dribbling ability, he has pace to burn, and he knows how to use both. He did so devastatingly throughout the first half, winning the penalty, almost winning another, and constantly putting Argentina on the back foot.

With France stunned by Argentina’s goals from nowhere, Mbappé stood up and scored twice to put Les Bleus 3-2, then 4-2 ahead.

Somehow, he’s still just a teenager! On the biggest stage, this was undoubtedly a day we will look back on later on in Mbappé’s career.

Messi’s international dream dies

Lionel Messi will never win the World Cup. This Argentina team was, simply, nowhere near the level required and did not learn from their group stage escape.

And they’re out. Even with a lucky goal to take the lead against the run of play. Even while relying on some last-gasp defending. Even with a late fightback against a France side that had subbed Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé too soon.

Messi rescued Barcelona in the group stage with his genius goal against Nigeria but he has now played 756 World Cup knockout minutes in his career without scoring. He did assist for the fourth World Cup in a row, but it wasn’t enough.

Once again, Argentina failed to set up in a way to get the most out of the brightest star. And their defence wasn’t good enough to make up for it.

Goal(s!) of the tournament

Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow.

We thought Ángel di María had goal of the tournament in the bag with his equaliser right before the break.

But Benjamin Pavard’s strike to make it 2-2 was even better.

Breathtaking.