France 4 Argentina 3
Kylian Mbappe scored two second-half goals as France beat Argentina 4-3 to progress to the World Cup quarter-finals.
A scintillating match in Kazan saw France open the scoring after 13 minutes through Antoine Griezmann’s penalty but a superb long-range strike from Argentina forward Angel Di Maria levelled the scores four minutes before half-time.
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A Lionel Messi shot was deflected into the net by Gabriel Mercado to put Argentina in front early in the second-half but France hit back with three goals to secure their place in the last-eight.
Benjamin Pavard scored one of the best goals of the World Cup so far to give France an equaliser before Mbappe, 19, netted twice in four minutes midway in the second-half.
Substitute Sergio Aguero scored a consolation in injury-time for Argentina but it was not enough for the South Americans.
For Messi and Argentina the defeat marked the end of a World Cup where they failed to shine. After scraping through the group stage they were exposed by the pace and counter attacking of Mbappe and France.
The defeat could also be the end of Messi’s World Cup career.
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