KYLIAN MBAPPE refused to let the Philadelphia weather rain on his parade as he delivered the perfect response to Lionel Messi.
The France captain toasted his 100th cap with yet another stunner – before a TWO-HOUR delay for thunderstorms – then added the easiest goal of his haul.
Kylian Mbappe scored his 15th and 16th World Cup goals Credit: Getty
France’s Fab Four were on song in Philadelphia Credit: Getty
Just hours after seeing Messi take the all-time World Cup goal record on 18 – five of them coming since Mbappe’s superb double against Senegal last Tuesday – Les Bleus’ captain wasted no time chasing down the Argentine great.
His 14th-minute emphatic left-footed ripper was goal No15 on the global stage – and he’s still only 27.
At this rate, Messi will be lucky to finish the tournament out in front.
Thunderstorms forced staff to evacuate the stands before kick-off and fans were delayed entry into the Philadelphia Stadium, prompting fears the match could be delayed.
France and particularly Mbappe were poor in the first half against Senegal. Not so here.
He was on a mission to close the gap to Messi and did so in style, picking up Michael Olise’s pass and letting fly from range.
It wasn’t as good as the goal against Senegal but still left the Iraqi players stunned and the 68,000 fans in awe.
Mbappe thought about an acrobatic attempt for a second but left it for Ousmane Dembele, incredibly still seeking his first France goal at a major tournament, and the chance was gone.
As it wasn’t tough enough, Iraq lost their captain Aymen Hussein to injury at the first hydration break as Ipswich striker Ali Al-Hamadi came on.
But the real hydration break came at half-time.
The heavy rainfall started about ten minutes before half-time and during the interval, Fifa confirmed the second half would be delayed by at least 15 minutes as fans were ordered to take shelter out of the stands.
But after TWO hours, furious squeegeeing by grounds staff to clear puddles, the cancellation of the hydration break and the all-clear from ref Drew Fischer, the second half got underway at 8pm, instead of 6pm.
That only delayed Mbappe’s next goal, matching Miroslav Klose’s former record.
And he won’t score any easier.
Defender Zaid Tahseen played a loose goal-kick pass beyond his goalkeeper Ahmed Basil’s outstretched leg, Dembele pounced in the penalty area and, rather than going for his first goal, put it on a plate for Mbappe to make it 16 in 16 World Cup games.
Mbappe produced superb skill to tee up Olise who clipped an effort against the crossbar before Dembele had a fine effort saved and Adrien Rabiot headed the rebound wide.
Dembele had two more efforts go close but at long last got his long-overdue goal, taking Olise’s sliding pass in his stride, opening his body and slotting expertly into the far bottom corner.
The Olise pass was his last touch and the Dembele shot was his last touch as they were immediately withdrawn for Rayan Cherki and Desire Doue.
Iraq went looking for just their third World Cup goal ever, meanwhile, as Al-Hamadi went closest on the stretch at the back post.
Barcola almost forced an own goal before being withdrawn for Maghnes Akliouche, while Malo Gusto took Jules Kounde’s spot at right-back.
Crucially, though, Mbappe stayed on in search of the hat-trick in his double pursuit of Messi: for the 2026 Golden Boot and the all-time record.
He almost got it in style in the 90th minute as he sprinted away but flashed high and wide on his left foot – to the disappointment of everyone except Messi.
The match was delayed by two hours due to heavy rain and thunderstorms Credit: AP
Mbappe blasted in the opener with his left foot Credit: Getty
Fans kept their spirits up during the delay Credit: AP
Dembele put the ball on a plate for Mbappe’s second Credit: Getty
Ousmane Dembele grabbed his maiden World Cup goal Credit: Getty
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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