Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Paul MacInnes in Philadelphia

Kylian Mbappé hungry for Golden Boot battle with Messi as he sings Les Bleus

Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé was in fine form for France as he scored twice in their World Cup opener against Senegal. Photograph: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images

Kylian Mbappé is relishing a Golden Boot duel with Lionel Messi, the player he calls the “best of the best”, but has said his personal ambitions would be subordinated to those of the team when France seek to seal qualification from Group C with victory over Iraq on Monday.

Mbappé stepped into the full glare of the international media for the first time at this World Cup and handled the spotlight impeccably. From a defence of Ousmane Dembélé to the hot topic of the hydration break, France’s captain spoke in a calm and thoughtful manner. A more pugilistic role was reserved for his manager, Didier Deschamps.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.