Storms Can't Halt Les Bleus' Momentum
- France beat Iraq 3-0 to book their place in the World Cup knockout stage
- Mbappe scored twice to reach 16 career World Cup goals
- The France captain dismissed talk of a personal rivalry with Messi
- Deschamps believes Mbappe is capable of breaking even more scoring records
- France will face Norway next in a marquee clash between Mbappe and Haaland
France Reach Knockout Stage as Mbappe Shines Again
Kylian Mbappe continued his outstanding World Cup form by scoring twice in France's 3-0 victory over Iraq, helping Les Bleus secure a place in the knockout rounds with two wins from two matches. The match in Philadelphia was interrupted by severe thunderstorms, causing a delay of more than two hours before play resumed.
France remained in control after the restart, with Ousmane Dembele adding a third goal to complete the victory. Mbappe's brace took his career World Cup tally to 16 goals, drawing level with Miroslav Klose and moving ahead of Brazil legend Ronaldo on the tournament's all-time scoring list.
Mbappe Dismisses Messi Rivalry Talk
As attention grows around the World Cup scoring race between Mbappe and Lionel Messi, the France captain insisted his focus remains solely on helping his team succeed rather than competing for individual records.
Mbappe said he is not paying attention to Messi's goals and believes France's progress is more important than personal milestones, adding that the records will come naturally if he continues scoring.
Deschamps Backs Mbappe to Break More Records
Mbappe's latest double came in his 100th appearance for France, leaving him just two goals behind Messi's World Cup record of 18. France manager Didier Deschamps believes the Real Madrid forward has the talent to continue rewriting the record books.
Deschamps praised Mbappe's consistency and said records are made to be broken, backing him to keep scoring while acknowledging comparisons with legends such as Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
France Set Sights on Deeper World Cup Run
With qualification already secured and six points from two group matches, France can now focus on carrying their momentum into the knockout rounds as they continue their pursuit of another World Cup title.
Les Bleus will wrap up the group stage against Norway at Boston Stadium on Friday, where Mbappe is set for a highly anticipated showdown with fellow star striker Erling Haaland.
