The Associated Press France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal of his team’s win over Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J. on Tuesday.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After a flat first half, Kylian Mbappe got France back in tune.

Mbappe scored twice to move past Pele and Lionel Messi with 14 World Cup goals, celebrating by mimicking a flautist as he had promised, and Les Bleus beat Senegal 3-1 Tuesday in their World Cup opener.

“He could have scored four or five goals, OK, theoretically, but we’re happy with two goals,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.

Mbappe had 14 touches in the scoreless first half, the fewest of any player, then put France ahead in the 66th minute. He burst past Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, turned onto a diagonal pass from Michael Olise and slid the ball past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from just outside the 6-yard box.

In a segment with Mbappe taped May 20 and aired Friday by U.S. broadcaster Fox, award-winning actor and television host James Corden suggested the 27-year-old star striker celebrate his next World Cup goal by imitating a flute player. Mbappe practiced the instrument for a year or two as a child at the behest of his parents.

“I’ll do it for you first game,” Mbappe said.

Mbappe ran toward a corner, brought both hands to his lips and air-tooted for a few seconds.

“If he wants to miss the first half again and score two goals in the second half in another match, that’s OK with me,” Deschamps said.

Messi has hat trick

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lionel Messi delivered his first World Cup hat trick and matched Miroslav Klose’s career scoring record before thousands of Argentina fans packed into Arrowhead Stadium for a match against Algeria on Tuesday night. The defending champions went on to win 3-0.

Norway tops Iraq

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Erling Haaland scored his first two World Cup goals, including one off a defensive blunder, in his tournament debut to propel Norway to a 4-1 victory over Iraq in Group I on Tuesday.

It was the 56th and 57th international goals for the Manchester City striker and came in Norway’s first appearance in the tournament since 1998. Leo Ostigard also scored a goal.