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Kylian Mbappe follows Lionel Messi's big day with his own for France

PHILADELPHIA – Mother Nature gave France and Iraq a nearly 2-hour hydration break on June 22 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Lightning strikes in the area cleared the stands as halftime arrived and delayed the start of the second half.

Few among the sellout crowd of 68,324 left during that rainy delay, which certainly wouldn’t have been the case had this been U.S. college or pro sports. The stands looked as full in the second half as they did in the first.

France's fans wait in the rain at halftime during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images)

Unfortunately for the Iraqis, however, the French national team also returned for their World Cup duel. Les Bleus, with leading man Kylian Mbappe and his many talented peers, turned their night that sad shade.

“We executed the game plan, but they are good,” Iraq’s Rebin Sulaka said matter-of-factly afterward.

Iraq was the last team to qualify for the World Cup. France won it in 2018, reached the finals in 2022 before losing on penalty kicks and is among the favorites this year.

Its 3-0 win Monday increases the likelihood that the French will return to Philadelphia for a round-of-16 match, possibly against rival neighbor Germany, on July 4.

The differences were quite apparent, though this being soccer, where scoring is rare and difficult, Iraq was able to keep it close for a while.

But at the ripe old age of 27, Mbappe somehow remains precocious, a brat who consistently confounds foes with cleverness and creativity, swiftness and skill. He also plays with an obvious joy and exuberance that is contagious.

All of those qualities were evident as he helped assure France's spot in the knockout round.

France’s first goal Monday night came when Mbappe actually made an errant pass. Somehow the ball bounced back to him as a teammate and an Iraqi player fought for possession.

Mbappe promptly drilled a left-footed shot 20 yards out from the right half of the field into the upper left-hand corner of the goal in the 14^th minute, sending his flag-bearing countrymen and women into hysterics.

To make the Lincoln Financial Field playing surface wide enough for soccer, seats were removed at the four corners of the stadium. Space is as valuable an asset as speed, and few make better use of it than Mbappe.

He’d had previous opportunities before converting that one. If a ball found space, it often seemed to be landing at Mbappe’s dangerous feet, whether he was on the right or left wing or more centered.

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe (L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate forward #07 Ousmane Dembele (R) during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)

His second goal, early in the second half, was a gift from Iraq. Defender Zaid Tahseen, taking a goal kick, sent a square ball to his left to goalkeeper Ahmed Basile, who was not anticipating the pass and it flicked off his foot to Ousmane Dembele. Mbappe tapped in his pass to make it 2-0.

Dembele was then rewarded with a 66^th minute goal of his own, his first in a World Cup game.

Earlier in the day Lionel Messi became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, getting his fourth and fifth goals of this tournament to break the record held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose that he’d equaled with his hat trick against Algeria. Messi has 18 career World Cup tallies.

Mbappe had actually been one ahead of Messi after scoring twice against Senegal last week and is now two behind with 16 career World Cup goals.

The two were Paris St. Germain teammates from 2021-23 before Messi moved to FC Miami in Major League Soccer. Mbappe later went to Real Madrid. While their greatness is indisputable, Mbappe is 11½ years younger and will surely eclipse the Argentine wonder’s mark.

In the 2018 World Cup at age 19, Mbappe had become the second teenager to score in a World Cup final, joining Brazil immortal Pele, while sparking France to the title on home soil. Anyone who equals the accomplishments of the great Brazilian is surely destined for his own immortality.

“Not sure if Kylian will play to their age,” France coach Didier Deschamps said afterward, “but if he plays, he will score a lot of goals. Has the capacity to up his ante.”

Three nights after fans in Philly were treated to Brazil’s soccer splendor in its 3-0 win over Haiti, the French were equally impressive with Mbappe exhibiting his renowned proficiency, which will be on display for this World Cup and probably a couple more.

More on World Cup

PLEASANT SIGHT: Brazil dominates Haiti while World Cup spirit unites fans

CAN'T HAPPEN: Don't hold your breath for a July 4 US-England World Cup match in Philly

SEEING THEIR IDOLS: Players on high-level Delaware soccer team relish World Cup

DELAWARE CONNECTION: Mark McKenzie on verge of playing in World Cup

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Kylian Mbappe follows Lionel Messi's big day with his own for France

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