Emmanuel Macron reveals what he told Kylian Mbappe after France's heartbreaking defeat to Argentina in 2022 FIFA World Cup final
French president Emmanuel Macron has revealed that he reminded Kylian Mbappe that he;s still young after France's heartbreaking defeat to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday (December 18).
Les Bleus suffered a heartbreaking 4-2 defeat on penalties to La Albiceleste after a pulsating 3-3 draw after extra time. Mbappe, 23, was on the losing side despite scoring an incredible hat-trick and scoring in the shootout.
Macron spoke to the forward after France's defeat. The French president revealed to RMC Sport what he told Mbappe:
"Kylian Mbappe is a great player, but he’s young, and I reminded him of that. I told him he’s only 24, and he was the World Cup top scorer. He’s won a World Cup before; he’s been to another final."
Macron touched on the disappointment of defeat:
"I was as sad as him, but I told him he had made us all very proud, and in the end, we’ve lost a football match, we came so close. That’s how it is in sport."
France staged a memorable comeback in the 80th minute after trailing Argentina 2-0. Mbappe scored from the spot to reduce arrears before firing a phenomenal volley past Emiliano Martinez only a minute late. Commending Les Bleus' brilliant comeback, Macron said:
"We came back amazingly. What Mbappe and the whole team did is extraordinary. We found our hunger again. I really believed we would do it. We had a miraculous second half, coming back from nowhere."
French President Emmanuel Macron consoles Kylian Mbappé after falling short of the World Cup trophy.
https://t.co/Bem2bFPbZ8
Mbappe now has four goals in the final of the FIFA World Cup, the most by any player in history, having scored once in the 2018 win.
Kylian Mbappe claims Golden Boot despite agonising defeat to Argentina in 2022 FIFA World Cup final
Kylian Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot following a remarkable campaign. He scored eight goals and provided two assists in seven games.
With his hat-trick, the PSG striker moved one clear of his club teammate Lionel Messi, who struck a brace in the final. Mbappe is the first player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup final since Sir Geoff Hurst did so for England in 1966.
#Mbappé
Impossible to forget this performance by Kylian Mbappé ⭐️🇫🇷 #Mbappé
Hat trick in a World Cup final.
Also, one more penalty scored.
12 World Cup goals in two editions.
…fair to remember he’s still 23!
Special. https://t.co/izPVDz0MzS
The French forward's first goal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup came in a 4-1 demolition of Australia in the group stage. He then netted a brilliant brace in a 2-1 win over Denmark before managing another double in the last 16 against Poland.
After not scoring against England in the quarterfinals and Morocco in the semifinals, the Frenchman would burst into life in the final. It had seemed he would bow out of the tournament as the Golden Boot runner-up heading into the dying embers of normal time against Argentina.
However, he came to life and spearheaded an admirable comeback for France that eventually proved to be in vain.