Mbappe Reaches Three Goals: France Look Like Serious Contenders

[Rapid Ava]

Kylian Mbappe went into today's match against Iraq with two World Cup goals at this tournament and left with three. He scored before the lightning delay and added another after it. France are now top of Group I and looking very comfortable. Mbappe is three goals behind Messi in the Golden Boot race with games to spare. France beat Senegal 3-1 in game one. They've beaten Iraq. They've scored goals freely. Defensively they've been solid. This looks like a team that has finally resolved the drama and off-field distractions that plagued previous tournaments and just started playing football. Mbappe as France's all-time leading scorer with 58 international goals is also becoming one of the storylines of the tournament.

Argentina's Lionel Messi makes history in 2-0 win over Austria; France, Norway both victorious in World Cup matcheswww.nbcnews.com

[Undertaker]

France scoring freely in both games is the most dangerous thing in this tournament. They weren't fluent in 2022 and won it

[Mesh Ross]

Mbappe is the threat because France will go deep. More games means more opportunities. Messi's lead today could be Mbappe's by the quarterfinals

[IronFist66]

Haaland as dark horse is underrated. If Norway beat France in the final group game and go deep he gets games and goals. He scores in almost every game he plays

[Myles]

Mbappe vs Messi in the Golden Boot race is a gift for this tournament. Five goals versus three. On it goes

[Ryan65]

Three goals from open play. That's the Mbappe people feared. Not penalties not set pieces. Running at people and finishing

[Outlaw]

France's defence has been tight too. If the front scores and the back defends they're unstoppable

[EdgeRatedR86]

Mbappe as France's all-time leading scorer at 25 years old. Still probably has two more World Cups in him

[Glenn82]

Iraq had no answer for France's speed. The gaps in behind were ruthlessly punished

[DiogoCardoso]

Group I is France Norway at the top both on six points potentially. That final group game is going to be spectacular

[HeartbreakKid92]

The lightning delay didn't unsettle France at all. If anything they came back sharper. Good mentality

[Ridge47]

If France and Argentina meet in the final again this tournament will have delivered everything

[Sam]

Deschamps has them organised and dangerous. That combination is what wins World Cups