Skip to content

World Cup day 17 in a nutshell: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo exit Russia 2018

Graphic
Image: Both Lionel Messi (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo departed the World Cup on Saturday

We round up Saturday's talking points from the World Cup as Pele praises Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both exit the tournament.

The World Cup last 16 got underway on Saturday with two brilliant contests as first France edged past Argentina in a seven-goal thriller in Kazan, before Uruguay held on to beat Portugal 2-1 in Sochi to set up a fascinating last-eight showdown between the two.

However, that does mean that both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both now exited the tournament after their respective country's defeats on Saturday.

Each day during the tournament we'll be rounding up all the big stories and best reaction right here, so you don't miss a thing.

Here are the highlights from day 17 at the World Cup…

The reports

France 4-3 Argentina

Mbappe eclipsed Lionel Messi as France reached the World Cup quarter-finals after a thrilling 4-3 win over Argentina in Kazan.

Also See:

The Paris Saint-Germain teenager won a 13th-minute penalty for Antoine Griezmann with a storming 75-yard run and scored two goals in five minutes (64, 68) after the break as Didier Deschamps' side overcame the setback of going behind to claim a convincing victory.

Argentina had hit back through a 30-yard Angel Di Maria strike (41) and a fortuitous flick from Gabriel Mercado three minutes after the restart but they were outplayed for prolonged periods in a game that could be Messi's last on the global stage.

Benjamin Pavard's 57th-minute half-volley - his first France goal - sparked a second-half surge and though substitute Sergio Aguero threatened a late twist with an injury-time header, Mbappe's double proved decisive, setting up a last-eight tie against Uruguay.

Uruguay 2-1 Portugal

Edinson Cavani scored twice as Uruguay booked a quarter-final date with France and sent Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal home after a 2-1 win in Sochi.

Cavani opened the scoring just seven minutes into the keenly-fought contest when he finished off a stunning cross-field one-two with Luis Suarez.

Edinson Cavani celebrates his second goal
Image: Edinson Cavani celebrates his second goal against Portugal

Pepe equalised with a towering 55th-minute header but Cavani hit back with a stylish first-time strike (62) to send Oscar Tabarez's men through to the last eight for the first time since 2010.

Ronaldo, thwarted at set-pieces and restricted to pot shots, struggled to inspire the European champions and bows out of the tournament on the same day as La Liga rival Lionel Messi.

Moment of the day

The last-16 tie at the Kazan Arena was just starting to warm up when France striker Mbappe picked up possession of the ball midway inside his own half.

However, there appeared no real danger given the youngster was surrounded by two Argentina players and still had an age to go in order to threaten his opponent's goal.

Image: Kylian Mbappe was France's man of the match in his side's win against Argentina

In a blink of an eye, though, the 19-year-old PSG forward had used his afterburners to speed past his markers and advance on goal, only for Argentina centre-back Marcos Rojo to end the 76-yard run with a crude foul.

The result was a clear penalty, which Griezmann confidently converted, but it was Mbappe's mesmeric dribble that was the defining moment of the match, and the day.

The key quotes

I'm very happy, and it's flattering to be the second teenager after Pele but let's put things in context: Pele is in another category, but it's good to be among these people
Mbappe after his two-goal salvo against Argentina
I am nowhere near as talented as him
French midfielder Paul Pogba, speaking of team-mate Mbappe
We had the misfortune of coming up against a player, Mbappe, who had an incredible day and who made us pay for it
Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli
It's time to say goodbye
Javier Mascherano after Argentina lost to France

Stats of the day

  • It was the first 4-3 in World Cup history not to require extra time

Tweet of the day

Brazil legend Pele congratulates France youngster Mbappe after his two-goal salvo helped knock Argentina out of the World Cup.

In the news

James Rodriguez was the only Colombia player who did not take part in training on Saturday, raising further doubts about whether he will be fully fit for the last-16 clash against England.

Rodriguez, who was the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup, has been struggling with a calf injury since the start of this summer's tournament in Russia.

He left the field in the 31st minute of Colombia's 1-0 victory over Senegal on Thursday but his injury has never been officially disclosed as the reason for the substitution and Colombia have not clarified how serious it is.

The South Americans face England on Tuesday at Moscow's Spartak Stadium.

'Colombia not the same without James'
'Colombia not the same without James'

South American football expert Tim Vickery says Jose Pekerman's side are not the same team without the Bayern Munich star.

Elsewhere, Spain says some members of the World Cup squad have been screened for doping at the team's hotel in Moscow.

The tests have been conducted a day before the team's round-of-16 match against host Russia in the capital.

The Spanish soccer federation says players were asked to provide urine and blood samples to FIFA officials. It did not say which players were tested.

And Switzerland forward Breel Embolo (left) is back in Russia after returning home to attend the birth of his first child.

TOPSHOT - (LtoR) Switzerland's forward Breel Embolo, Switzerland's defender Ricardo Rodriguez and Switzerland's midfielder Granit Xhaka react after the Eur

The Swiss football federation says Embolo spent "the most beautiful 24 hours of his life" getting home in time to see his daughter, Naylia, born.

Embolo says "the timing was perfect" to be with his partner Naomi.

The 21-year-old forward played the full 90 minutes Wednesday evening in Nizhny Novgorod, where Switzerland drew 2-2 with Costa Rica.

Around Sky