Kylian Mbappe scored two goals to help France beat Argentina 4-3 and qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals. Apart from helping his team, the Paris Saint-Germain forward also matched a record set by football legend Pele.
With his two goals against the Lionel Messi’s side, the 19-year-old became the first teenager to score at least twice in a World Cup match since Pele scored a brace against Sweden in 1958.
In 1958, Pele scored two goals as Brazil defeated Sweden 5-2 in the final to lift the World Cup trophy. Vava also scored a brace in that match as Mario Zagallo scored the other goal.
Mbappe is also the first teenager to score more than once in a World Cup tournament since 1998. The last player to do so was Michael Owen. The forward helped France make a new record as for the first time they have reached the quarter-finals in two consecutive World Cup. They reached the quarter-finals in the 2014 edition as well.
The explosive 19-year-old netted France’s third goal in the 64th minute and sealed the win four minutes later with a cool finish to set up a quarter-final clash with Uruguay or Portugal, who meet later on Saturday. Benjamin Pavard also netted a fine strike for France after Antoine Griezmann’s 13th minute penalty had opened the scoring.