In a World Cup match that was delayed for over two hours because of thunder and lightning in the Philadelphia area, it was France star Kylian Mbappé who made it rain while the game was being played.
The France star scored twice -- once before and once after the weather delay -- as the 2018 World Cup champions cruised to an easy 3-0 win against an overmatched Iraq team.
The brace took Mbappé's total to four goals for this year's tournament, but perhaps more impressively it put him at 16 career World Cup goals -- level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose, whose all-time goals record was equaled and then broken by Lionel Messi over the course of Argentina's first two games.
However, the Real Madrid star said there was no competition with Messi, and it wasn't something he usually thought about.
"There is no saga [with Messi]," Mbappé said. "Leo has also scored, he scores and he will always score. I don't watch what he does, otherwise I will have to do more. I only look at my team.
"When you score goals, you get closer to this sphere but I repeat: for me it's more important to see our progression."
Mbappé also moved ahead of Brazil great Ronaldo, who has 15, with his record sixth multigoal World Cup game.
All-time leader Messi, who scored twice in a win over Austria earlier Monday, now sits alone at 18 with Mbappé -- 11 years his junior and making his 100th international appearance for France -- hot on his heels.
"Records are made to be beaten," France coach Didier Deschamps said after the game. "He has reached 100 caps, goals he will keep scoring many. Then, Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo. I'm not sure Kylian will play until the same age, but he will always score a lot of goals while he is on the pitch.
"He has the ability to put the record even higher."
As the game approached halftime, the skies above Lincoln Financial Field opened up and soaked players and spectators. Shortly after players went to the dressing room for the break, FIFA announced that the match would be delayed at least 15 minutes.
That delay -- the first of the tournament -- ended up lasting over two hours, as a FIFA rule requires games to be paused and seating areas evacuated for 30 minutes if lightning is detected within 8 miles. Each strike resets the clock.
"In the dressing room during the break, we played cards," Deschamps said. "No, we were waiting because we had slots and they kept being pushed back. The most important for me and [Iraq coach] Graham Arnold was to have the 20 minutes to warm up again and not take any risks.
"It is the first time this happens to me [a long break] and I hope it's the last."
There was also heavy rain ahead of Monday night's game between Norway and Senegal in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but that game started on time.
Once back on the field after halftime, it was more of the same for France, with Ousmane Dembélé setting up Mbappé for his second before scoring France's third for his first World Cup goal.
"It was long between the start and the end if the game, especially as we have another game in four days," Deschamps said. "I'm not angry. We were cool, I was joking with the players. It's about to security. I'm not mad at anyone. From the moment there is a risk, we follow the local rules. I respect it."
Mbappé scored his third goal of the tournament with a left-footed strike -- his supposed weaker foot -- from the edge of the box that got past Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil, who got his first start in the tournament after captain Jalal Hassan allowed all four goals in Iraq's 4-1 loss to Norway.
For his second goal of the game, Mbappé took advantage of a poor pass to the goalkeeper by Iraq defender Zaid Tahseen. Dembélé controlled the loose ball and passed to Mbappé, who tapped it in with his right foot.
"Knowing him, he is very demanding with himself," Deschamps said. "I have no worries about him. He is here to score goals and he does. He also plays his role of captain on and off the pitch. He has a worldwide aura. I have heard enough criticism about him and his selfish side, but that's not him at all. He is the captain and he is a very good example for the whole squad."
Mbappé had a chance at the hat trick on a late breakaway but missed before he was subbed out at the 90-minute mark.
Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was subbed out with an apparent injury in the 26th minute of the first half and replaced by Ali Al-Hamadi. Hussein scored his 34th international goal in Iraq's World Cup opener.
Iraq are playing in the World Cup for just the second time after debuting in 1986.
The result has France, who could return to Philadelphia to play Germany on July 4, with six points from two games after beating Senegal 3-1 in their opener. Didier Deschamps' side is assured of a spot in the knockout rounds, but its group stage finale against Norway will likely decide who tops the group.
Information from AP was used in this report. ESPN reporters Julien Laurens also contributed.
