Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe’s expression holding the Golden Boot in his hands summed up his night at the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, after a heartbreaking defeat against Lionel Messi’s Argentina. The 23-year-old did all he could to drag France from two goals down to draw level in the final ten minutes of the regular time, and then won a penalty and converted it in the 118th minute to cut out Messi’s 108th minute striker which had put Argentina ahead.

Mbappe looked inconsolable as even the France President Emmanuel Macron couldn’t comfort him. It was perhaps a golden chance for France to become the first team in 60 years to successfully defend their crown, and Mbappe to add a second world cup trophy to his repertoire at just 23-year-old. But all that went away despite their extraordinary efforts, as Argentina once again prevailed in a penalty shootout. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe spoke out for the first time after the devastating loss in final, sending a defiant message to the French fans.

Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe couldn’t believe that despite all his efforts, France had to accept a defeat in the World Cup final against Argentina. Credits: Twitter

Kylian Mbappe vows to return after World Cup defeat

Kylian Mbappe was honored with the Golden Boot for the top scorer at the tournament ahead of Messi as his hat-trick took him ahead of his PSG teammate on 8 goals. But as it was evident, the Golden Boot wasn’t the trophy Mbappe was yearning for and he wanted to lift the World Cup for a second time in a row. Even he couldn’t believe that all his heroics of a hat-trick went in vain during the penalty shootout.

However, he once again showed the champion mentality he is built of, by sending a strong message speaking for the first time since that defeat. Mbappe seems full of confidence despite facing a crushing defeat in the final as he has vowed that the French team will return with more resolute. Sharing a message on his social media handles, Mbappe wrote:

“We will return.”

This comes from a player who has just lost a FIFA World Cup final despite scoring a hat-trick in it. Moreover, Mbappe became only the second player after Sir Geoff Hurst to bag a treble in the final of a FIFA World Cup final, however one that he will not want to remember. Meanwhile, his club mate Messi spearheaded Argentina’s jubilant celebrations as they added a third star to above the Argentine crest.

While Mbappe would certainly want to forget this Qatar tournament, Messi has had one to remember for the ages. The ‘La Pulga’ finally crowned his already illustrious career with a World Cup win and cemented his legacy like none. Th World Cup trophy had been the only silverware which had eluded him for all these years, and which he came close to winning as well in 2014.

The former Barcelona playmaker wasn’t going to take any chances this time in his last ever FIFA World Cup finals appearance. And neither was he let down by his teammates, who literally ran their lungs out for their captain. And at last, the world witnessed the sight of Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup for Argentina for the first time since Diego Maradona raised it in 1986.