EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kylian Mbappe scored his 17th and 18th career World Cup goals to keep chasing Lionel Messi and tournament history in France’s 3-0 victory over Sweden in Tuesday’s round of 32 clash.

Mbappe is now one behind Messi on the all-time tournament list, and with his fifth and sixth goals of this year’s tournament has pulled even with the 39-year-old in the Golden Boot chase.

Messi and Argentina face Cape Verde on Friday in Miami Gardens, Fla., in their round of 32 meeting.

Bradley Barcola added his second of the tournament after halftime as the two-time World Cup champions continued their dominant form, having won all four of their tournament matches by a combined 13-2 margin.

Michael Olise had two assists in Tuesday’s victory, which marked the tournament’s first round of 32 match (out of six played) decided by more than one goal.

Manager Didier Deschamps’ side will next play on Saturday in Philadelphia against Paraguay, who shocked four-time champions Germany on penalties following a 1-1 draw on Monday in Foxborough, Mass.

Sweden are eliminated following one of the more turbulent World Cup stays in recent memory, defeating Tunisia 5-1 and then losing to the Netherlands by the same score before drawing their group finale 1-1 against Japan to reach the knockout phase.

It was their first time advancing from a group in a major tournament since the 2020 European Championships (played in 2021). Sweden failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Euros.

Swedish boss Graham Potter said his team would need to play by far its best game of the tournament to have a chance against the heavily favored French, and they fell well short of that early.

Les Bleus were dominant in the first half, with Mbappe and Olise both hitting the woodwork and Olise also forcing Jacob Widell Zetterstrom into an exceptional low diving save.

After the exasperation of those near misses, Mbappe gave Les Bleus the deserved lead in the 45th minute.

Olise and Ousmane Dembele combined from a short corner to slip Mbappe in on the left side of the box. Mbappe cut back to his right against Viktor Gyokeres, then finished emphatically past Widell Zetterstrom.

Barcola doubled the advantage eight minutes after the break, finishing past Widell Zetterstrom on the break after running into Olise’s slick throughball that passed through a Sweden defender’s leg.

Mbappe completed the French scoring in the 74th minute, running onto yet another slicing ball from Olise through the left side of the penalty area before scoring on a very similar finish to his opening goal.

Eleven minutes later, Deschamps had the luxury of giving an early exit to his biggest star, who waved to an appreciative standing ovation from the north end of New York New Jersey Stadium on his way off the pitch.

–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media

Mercury guard Alyssa Thomas called on the WNBA and commissioner Cathy Engelbert to break their silence and address threats she’s facing since her physical altercation with Fever guard Caitlin Clark.

Thomas was suspended one game after the WNBA found she was guilty of “recklessly making contact with her fist” on Clark’s throat in their contentious game last week. Thomas, who termed the incident an accident, said she has been threatened and harassed online.

“We still have yet to hear anything yet from Cathy. It’s no surprise. You can see what’s being said on social media,” Thomas said Tuesday. “It’s unfortunate, but as usual, she remains silent. That’s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened.”

The league released a statement attributed to Engelbert later Tuesday.

“The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate,” Engelbert said in the statement. “The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority. We are aware of Alyssa Thomas’ comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players.”

Thomas was issued a retroactive flagrant foul and $1,000 fine after the game, which Phoenix won, 111-109.

She would not disclose any specific examples of the threats or share messages she has received, but many of the attacks were left visible on social media platforms.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball,” Thomas said. “Now we’re being painted as thugs and there’s death threats out on us. It’s really unacceptable, and something that needs to change in this league.”

–Field Level Media

Toronto Blue Jays standout first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup against the New York Mets due to back tightness.

The Blue Jays initially submitted a lineup with Guerrero’s name in it but announced about 90 minutes before first pitch that he had been scratched.

Guerrero has dealt with periodic back issues and he missed consecutive games against the New York Yankees in mid-June when the back flared up.

Sean Keys, who was initially slated to play third base against the Mets, will instead play first base. Luis Urias joined the lineup and will play second base with Ernie Clement moving to third.’

Guerrero is having a sluggish offensive season, batting .268 with just four homers and 34 RBIs in 81 games. The five-time All-Star has hit 23 or more homers in five consecutive seasons.

–Field Level Media