France 4-3 Argentina: Mbappe ends Messi's World Cup dream
Lionel Messi was unable to prevent Argentina exiting the World Cup on Saturday
Lionel Messi’s World Cup dream ended on Saturday as Argentina were beaten 4-3 by France in the last 16 in Kazan.
Goals from Angel Di Maria and Gabriel Mercado had given Argentina the lead early in the second half after Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring from the penalty spot.
However, three France goals in 12 minutes, one from Benjamin Pavard and two from man of the match Kylian Mbappe, took the game out of Messi’s hands.
Messi did still set up a late goal from Sergio Aguero, but there was to be not late twist as Argentina’s stay in Russia was brought to an end.
The World Cup is the one major honour missing from Messi’s trophy cabinet but it never looked like he would win it this summer.
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Argentina laboured through the group stages, drawing with Iceland, losing to Croatia and stumbling past Nigeria to set up their meeting with France.
Messi scored a brilliant goal in that win over Nigeria and set up two against France but he didn’t have the support cast he needed to take him any further in the competition.
Saturday’s headlines went to France’s 19-year-old sensation Mbappe, instead.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward’s pace caused Argentina’s defence all type of problems, with a run from his own half ending with Marcos Rojo hauling him down in the area.
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Griezmann scored from 12 yards to give France a deserved lead but Argentina were level by the break thanks to a wonder strike from Di Maria from 30 yards which found the side netting.
Argentina then took the lead when Messi’s shot was deflected home by Mercado but that only served to kick France into action.
Right-back Pavard made it 2-2 with a stunning strike from the corner of the box before Mbappe restored France’s lead with a neat piece of work inside the penalty area.
Mbappe added his second when he crowned a brilliant France move which started with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Argentina never looked like they had two goals in them but they were given a glimmer of hope when Messi’s fine pass was turned past Lloris by substitute Aguero.
With the final attack of the game they poured forward, with the ball flashing dangerously across the France box before going out of the field play as Messi’s World Cup campaign ended.