Bayer Leverkusen crushed hosts VfL Bochum 5-0 to stretch their remarkable unbeaten run across all competitions this season to 50 consecutive matches.
A goal, an assist and an all-round performance filled with menace from Kylian Mbappe was enough to help France to an emphatic win that left them top of Group D.
"What's important for me is to give the best of myself for my club, and we're looking forward for Leo (Messi) to return to continue scoring and winning matches."
The battle between England right back Kyle Walker and France's top scorer Kylian Mbappe could be key to the outcome of the first encounter between the teams in the knockout phase of a major tournament.
Paris St-Germain soccer star Kylian Mbappe and Chinese Olympic diving champion Zhang Jiaqi became godparents on Thursday to two baby pandas born at a French zoo earlier this year.
Real Madrid have courted Mbappe in the past but failed to land the 24-year-old, who signed a contract extension with PSG in May last year.
Ciro Immobile scored a 69th-minute penalty to earn hosts Lazio a 1-0 victory over 10-man Bayern Munich.
Argentine, somehow, were ready for an emotional, nail-biting encounter, having already gone through a dress rehearsal in the same stadium against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
Real Madrid have avoided defeat in their last 41 LaLiga games, the second best streak by a team in the competition's history.
"Neymar and Messi are unique: they see and do things nobody else sees or can do. A great player must know and understand who he plays with, your teammates enrich your qualities."
Kylian Mbappe is now expected to be paired with his favoured attacking partner in Olivier Giroud.
Spanish and French media reported on Tuesday that Real Madrid had made a 160-million-euro ($187.81-million) bid for the 22-year-old World Cup winner, who scored 42 goals in all competitions for PSG last season and has reportedly said he wants to move to Spain.
With Mbappe on the left flank of France's attack, he will cross paths with right-back Hakimi, the player he took under his wing when the Moroccan joined PSG from Inter Milan in 2021.
Erling Haaland had the same points as Lionel Messi but lost out by having fewer first-place votes from national team captains.
IMAGES from the UEFA Nations League matches played on Monday.
Greece beat England for the first time as striker Vangelis Pavlidis's double earned the visitors a richly-deserved 2-1 victory.
Here is a quick guide to the eight games which get underway on Saturday.
'An evening in Riyadh... what an evening... Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Mbappe, Neymar all playing together... and yours truly invited guest to inaugurate the game .. PSG vs Riyadh Seasons... Incredible!!!'
Brazil forward Neymar has signed for Al-Hilal from French champions Paris St Germain
IMAGES from the UEFA Champions League matches played on Wednesday
It took Giroud, who owed his place in the starting lineup to Benzema's absence, 115 international appearances to score his 51 goals, while Henry needed 123 from 1997-2010.
Brazil return to winning ways with dreary win over Ecuador in their World Cup qualifiers.
Arsenal's title hopes hit with 2-0 loss to Villa as Man City get boost
IMAGES from the FIFA World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco, played at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday.
World Cup-winning Captain Lionel Messi received a king's welcome in Paris on Wednesday.
The quarter-final draw was the last in the current format with UEFA adopting an all-new format from the 2024-25 season onwards.
IMAGES from UEFA Champions League matches played on Tuesday
Images from the FIFA World Cup match between France and Poland on Sunday.
France will look to keep their World Cup momentum going when they face Tunisia even though they have qualified for the knock-out stages, and coach Didier Deschamps will make changes for the game on Wednesday.
"Nobody likes to be exposed to what you're not good at, you just don't like it. But there is something that is bigger than anything else and that is the club," Henry said on CBS Sports on Tuesday.
Real Madrid have increased their offer to sign Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe to 170 million euros ($199.80 million) after having an initial 160 million euro bid rejected, Sky Sports reported on Thursday.
Real Madrid fought back from two goals down as Vinicius Jr grabbed a hat-trick in a thrilling 5-2 win over visitors Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
And to think that the 24-year-old forward had nearly missed the World Cup bus.
It was, possibly, the biggest takeaway from France's victory. They can win when Mbappe does not shine or score, and his reaction to Giroud's goal proved Deschamps's point when he said he did not need to manage the Paris St Germain forward's ego.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, who won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award, is also in the shortlist.
Paris St Germain closed out the year on a high as they maintained their five-point advantage at the top of the table.
Football legend Pele came out in support of French forward Kylian Mbappe who missed the decisive spot kick in Monday's 5-4 shootout loss to Switzerland that saw the world champions crash out of the European Championship in the last 16.
France forward Kylian Mbappe has apologised for missing the decisive spot kick in Monday's 5-4 shootout loss to Switzerland that saw the world champions crash out of the European Championship in the last 16.
Emma Hayes, who led Chelsea to the 2021 Champions League final, is joined on The Best FIFA Women's Coach shortlist by England manager Sarina Wiegman and Canada coach Beverly Priestman.
Novak Djokovic's parents, wife and children watched him win a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title at the Philippe Chatrier court on Sunday.
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