World cup foes Mbappe and Messi inspire PSG to win over rivals Marseille

Mbappe scored both his goals at the Velodrome from Lionel Messi assists and in between he set up the Argentine for PSG's other goal as they moved eight points clear at the top of the table.

It was a result and a performance that will erase many of the doubts about a team that had been in stuttering form in recent weeks as they outclassed their most credible domestic challengers.

Mbappe's brace took him to a double century of goals for PSG in just short of 250 appearances since signing from Monaco in 2017.

The 24-year-old therefore equals his former teammate Edinson Cavani as the club's record marksman.

"He is obviously fast but it's not just about his legs -- the speed at which he does things is out of the ordinary," PSG coach Christophe Galtier told broadcaster Amazon Prime.

"Players like him are clearly motivated by stats and records. Tonight he has equalled Edinson Cavani's magnificent record and he will obviously go on to beat it."

Mbappe is now out on his own as Ligue 1's leading scorer this season with 17 goals and has 29 in 29 games in all competitions since the campaign began.

Messi, meanwhile, now has 12 league goals this season and has set up 12 more, and PSG did not miss the absent Neymar.

The Brazilian was sidelined after being stretchered off with an ankle injury in last week's 4-3 defeat of Lille.

The Qatar-owned club saw their injury problems continue as centre-back Presnel Kimpembe -- whose season has been plagued by fitness issues -- was carried off early on after crumpling to the turf in agony.

"Unfortunately he seriously injured himself and will obviously be out until the end of the season," said Galtier, who added that it looked like an Achilles tendon injury."

PSG overcame that setback to take the