EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) 鈥� felt the heat and turned up the temperature on Lionel Messi for the most goals at the World Cup this year and in the tournament’s history.
Thriving on a hot, humid afternoon, Mbapp茅 scored his 17th and 18th career World Cup goals in on Tuesday, moving one back of Messi鈥檚 record of 19. With six in the tournament, Mbapp茅 tied the Argentina star in the race for the Golden Boot.
Asked coming off the field if he was already looking forward to facing Paraguay, Mbapp茅 quipped, 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to the changing room and the AC.鈥� It was 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) for the 5 p.m. kickoff, so steamy that Lucas Digne let himself be doused by a sprinkler during the first-half hydration break.
Before halftime, Mbapp茅 scored one for the highlight reel. In the 45th minute, Mbapp茅 engaged in a give-and-go with Ousmane Demb茅l茅, crossed over Viktor Gy枚keres and fired his shot past goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstr枚m.
鈥淚t goes without saying that Mapp is an absolute top, top player,鈥� Sweden coach Graham Potter said. 鈥淗is goal was a fine example of the speed and the change of direction and the way he can get the shot off quick. It鈥檚 an incredibly high level.鈥�
That broke a tie with Brazilian greats Leonidas and Ronaldo for the most goals in the knockout stage of the World Cup with nine. Mbapp茅 added to his record with his 10th, scoring in the 74th minute off a feed from Michael Olise.
Celebrating the first goal, Mbapp茅 ran immediately to coach Didier Deschamps after scoring. This was on the sideline after missing the group stage finale to for his mother鈥檚 funeral.
鈥淲e know that the head coach had to face a really tough, tough challenge,鈥� Mbapp茅 said. 鈥淓veryone will go through that one day. It goes beyond football. He knows that he will never be alone with us, and we will support him.鈥�
With 18 goals in 18 World Cup games, Mbapp茅 has scored at an even faster clip than Messi, who has played in 29 games at the tournament. Deschamps bowed to Mbapp茅 when he was substituted out in the 85th minute.
That kept Mbapp茅 from chasing a hat trick, but he also could have scored in the 32nd minute. Instead, the 27-year-old banged a shot off the left post and even began to celebrate before watching it bounce back.
Scoring twice later allowed Mbapp茅 not to regret that missed opportunity at a World Cup he is trying to soak in while playing some of his best soccer.
鈥淚 did say that I wanted to enjoy this World Cup to the fullest,鈥� Mbapp茅 said. “I鈥檓 not saying that the other World Cup I didn鈥檛 enjoy, but I was younger. I was focused then into delivering the best performances, and today I believe I can do both: delivering great performances and obviously enjoying.鈥�
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AP Sports Writer Ron Blum contributed to this report.
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