SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia — Teenage France cast aside the cautious approach star Kylian Mbappe struck twice and earned another goal as France thrillingly found its attacking edge to beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina, 4-3, and move into the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Saturday. Billed as Messi’s chance to reignite stuttering Argentina’s hopes, the pulsating Last 16 clash in Kazan instead saw 19-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe become the youngest player since Pele in 1958 to score two goals in a World Cup match.

from its first three games and confirmed its status as one of the favorites. And Mbappe, born in the same year that France won the World Cup in 1998 when current Bleus coach Didier Deschamps was captain, announced himself on the biggest stage. “It’s flattering to be the second teenager (to score twice in the World Cup) after Pele but let’s put things in context: Pele is in another category. But it’s good to be among

“We showed an excellent attitude, I’m very proud of the players and I’m very happy for them,” Deschamps said. “We created a huge amount of chances. If we’d scored them all, the score line could have been far heavier.”

Embattled Argentina coach orge Sampaoli promised an “aggressive attacking approach”

from his side after they scraped through the group phase.

But his fears over the superior speed of France’s strikers were quickly proven right when Mbappe sprinted from his own half and Marcos Rojo hauled him down.

Antoine Griezmann coolly converted the 13th minute penalty. Mbappe’s PSG teammate, Angel Di Maria, leveled with a 1st minute long-range stunner and the South Americans were back in what was proving a superb match.