Messi, Mbappe reach milestones in PSG’s win over Marseille

World Cup foes Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe reached individual milestones as they inspired Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-0 win at bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille to extend their Ligue 1 lead to eight points on Sunday.

While Mbappe became PSG's joint record scorer with 200 goals -- level with Edinson Cavani -- Messi became only the second player after his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo to enter the 700-goal club in club career. Ronaldo, meanwhile, has scored 709 goals in club level across competitions, including his latest hat-trick for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League match against Damac. 

France forward Mbappe, who was on the losing side against Messi's Argentina in the World Cup final, was set up by the Argentine for both his goals. And Mbappe repaid the favour by laying on another for the Argentine forward in the 29th minute.

PSG, who were knocked out of the French Cup in the last 16 by Marseille earlier this month, ended a three-game losing streak in all competitions by beating Lille last weekend and they were focused throughout at the Velodrome.

They suffered an early injury blow when Presnel Kimpembe, who missed the World Cup for France with an Achilles issue, left the pitch on a stretcher, two weeks after making his comeback from a three-month layoff.

Matteo Guendouzi created danger as Marseille pressed high and hard but they were exposed on the counter and the hosts were punished in the 25th minute when Messi played Mbappe through for the France forward to race into the area and beat Pau Lopez with a low shot.

The roles were reversed four minutes later as Mbappe delivered a pin-point cross for Messi, who tapped in from point-blank range to double the advantage in front of an all-time Ligue 1 record attendance of 65,800.

Messi then missed a sitter and Mbappe was denied by Lopez after being found in the area by the Argentine again, just before Marquinhos's angled shot went just wide as Marseille were again caught on the break.

Messi beautifully lifted the ball into the path of Mbappe, who volleyed home with his left foot for his 16th goal of the season in Ligue 1.

Gianluigi Donnarumma made a spectacular save from Nuno Tavares's header in the 67th to snuff out any hope of a Marseille comeback as PSG secured a first clean sheet in six league games.

PSG next face Nantes at home before travelling to Bayern Munich for their Champions League last-16 return leg after losing the first encounter 1-0 at the Parc des Princes.

With this win PSG, who were without the injured Neymar, moved to 60 points from 25 games with second-placed Marseille on 52.