Kylian Mbappe likened to Michael Owen after incredible display on 20th anniversary of famous goal against Argentina
STRIKER won rave reviews - and comparisons - on social media as he netted twice and produced a 60-yard burst to earn the penalty opener in France's 4-3 last-16 win
SOMETHING old, something new, something borrowed, something Bleus.
Kylian Mbappe went back to the future exactly 20 years after Michael Owen's wonder goal against Argentina.
The France striker conjured up comparisons with one of England's greatest ever moments with a scorching, 60-yard bust to win the penalty opener in a 4-3 World Cup last-16 triumph over the same South Americans today.
Mbappe made more history after that, netting twice to become the first teenager since Pele in the 1958 final to hit a brace in sport's greatest tournament.
And it was doubly poignant, too - because the 19-year-old eclipsed goalless Lionel Messi, 31, as the Argentina legend's last attempt to lift the ultimate prize ended more sheepishly than Goat-like.
Social media erupted to acclaim Mbappe almost as fast as the Paris Saint-Germain superstar had streaked past three opposition players in mid-pitch before Marcos Rojo clumsily bowled him over, enabling Antoine Griezmann to roll home an early spot-kick.
One fan tweeted: "As soon as Mbappe started that run it had Michael Owen 1998 written all over it."
And another said: "Twenty years to the day since Michael Owen's pace was too much for the Argies - and now Mbappe doing the same thing!"
There was a major difference, though.
Owen's surge, swerve, and angled finish put England 2-1 up that day, only for Argentina to draw 2-2 and win on penalties.
This time, Argentina struck twice to briefly lead, but Mbappe went into overdrive.
His two lethal strikes, including a confident conclusion to a glorious team move, spearheaded the most exciting victory of the World Cup so far - both for an individual and a team.
Some armchair critics warned against praising Les Bleus' main man Mbappe too highly - or making "ridiculous, reactionary" comparisons to a young Messi.
So, whilst one fan tweeted: "Mbappe has more knock-out goals than Messi and Ronaldo combined", another retorted: "Messi was killing Utd at 19 while Mbappe plays against f*** all in the French League."
But Owen, 18 then, was the future in 1998. Now Mbappe is the young pretender.
