Kylian Mbappe has spoken publicly for the first time since France’s dramatic World Cup final defeat against Argentina with the message: “We will be back.”
Mbappe netted a stunning final hat-trick as he beat Lionel Messi to win the Golden Boot; the Paris Saint-Germain striker scored twice inside a minute of normal time before scoring another penalty in extra-time to once again level the score, and then finding the net in the shootout.
It was a sensational performance to end another superb major tournament for the Frenchman, who had spearheaded his nation’s success in Russia four years earlier with four goals and becoming the first teenager to score in a final since Pele.
Mbappe continued to set records in Sunday’s showpiece as he became the first player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final since Geoff Hurst’s treble for England in the 1966 showpiece to ensure Les Bleus pushed Argentina all the way to the title.
The striker’s sensational final continued in the penalty shootout as he beat Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for the fourth time in the match to find the net in the penalty shootout, but it was not enough for Didier Deschamps’s side who were edged out 4-2 on spot kicks.
Mbappe did not speak publicly in the hours after the final as France missed out on becoming the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962 despite twice coming back to deny Argentina. He has now broken his silence with the defiant message on Twitter that "We will be back."
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"Many congratulations to Mbappe," Hurst wrote on Twitter during the game after Mbappe equalled his long-standing record. "Whatever happens, I've had a great run!" Rio Ferdinand led the praise from pundits on Mbappe's performance, declaring to the BBC : "He hadn't had a touch all game. Then two moments. He had the composure to dispatch the penalty.
Former Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta even heaped praise on the Frenchman's magic, saying: "In Mbappe they have one of the greatest players in the world. Two goals in three minutes, but that is why we love football. I cannot believe it, but what a game."
Mbappe can hold his head up high after another superb tournament for his nation as he continued his remarkable run in World Cup finals. He has now scored 12 goals across the two editions of the tournament in which he has played, just four goals shy of all-time record World Cup goal scorer Miroslav Klose.
