Barcelona star Lionel Messi’s hope of ever lifting a world cup trophy were on Saturday ended after his Argentina team was beaten by France in a seven goal thriller in Kazan, Russia.
PSG’s 19 year old fast emerging striker Kylian Mbappe was the star of the day after drawing a penalty for the first goal and later scoring twice to ensure Les Blues went marching on to the quarterfinals.
Emmanuel Macron’s boys took the lead only 13 minutes into the game after Mbappe’s run was ended by Marcos Rojo for the referee to award a penalty that was well converted Antoine Griezmann.
The South Americans levelled matters through Angel Di Maria four minutes to recess and were quick to double the lead only three minutes after the start of the second half.
Didier Deschamps’ boys however run wild scoring two successive goals in a space of four minutes(64’, 68’), thanks to youngster and man of the match Mbappe to tear Messi’s Argentina apart.
Argentina scored their third goal in the added minutes, thanks to a second half substitute Kun Aguero’s fine header but this was not enough to save them from packing their luggage back home.
The win ensured France will now play Luis Suarez’s Uruguay who beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 2-1 later in the day.
