At just 23 years old, French footballer Kylian Mbappe has achieved more in his short career than most players are able to achieve in their entire careers.
He may have fallen short of snatching the title from a Lionel Messi-led Argentine team. Messi, after all, was in the zone and was supported by a great team. Mbappe, on the other hand, was basically on his own. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t give it his all.
He scored an impressive hat-trick that tied the match 3-3 and sent the game into a penalty shootout.
His efforts didnt go unnoticed and he scored the most goals of any player in the World Cup, resulting in being awarded the Golden Boot.
Ridiculously Talented
He started his professional career playing for Monaco before he was loaned to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. They later signed him in 2018. He has been with them since. Throughout his young club career, he has made more than 200 goals.
Mbappe has also played for France since 2014 and has made 79 goals while playing on the French National Team. It is only a matter of time before he wins his first Ballon dOr but it is only a matter of time.
Without a doubt, he is ridiculously talented. He is the first player to score 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 World Cup Goals before he turned 24. He is also only the second player in the history of the World Cup to score a hat-trick in the World Cup Final. The first one was Geoff Hurst and that was back in 1966.
In November 2022, he became the youngest player to score 40 Champions League goals. He was also the first teenager in the history of the Champions League to score goals for two different clubs. He was also the highest-scoring teenager in the history of the Champions League.
The list goes on for this young player and at just 24, there is so much more ahead of him, career-wise.
Carried the 2022 French National Team on his Back
The image of a clearly crestfallen Mbappe after their World Cup loss was beamed across the world. All of Frances three goals were made by him but they were not enough to hand them the win.
No one can fault the young Frenchman for wallowing in the defeat even for a little bit.
If you just watched the World Cup finals, you wont be faulted for thinking that Mbappe was the only player worth his mettle in the Les Bleus.
Other players did manage to pitch in the earlier games with Oliver Giroud, Andreas Christensen, Robert Lewandowski, Randal Kolo Muani, and Theo Hernandez doing their share, but the World Cup Finals was entirely on Mbappe’s back.
He not only led his team in scoring, but he also scored the most of any player, thus the Golden Boot. Messi had to settle for silver.
He did his part in trying to rouse the team spirit. Later, a video of Mbappe trying to rouse his teams spirits was leaked online.
After their defeat, French President Emanuel Macron was seen trying to console the player.
In a recent interview, he said that their 2022 loss may always haunt him. He went on to say that he does not begrudge Argentina for celebrating the way they did nor does he hold any ill feelings toward Messi.
He also vows that his loss will not affect his gameplay at Paris Saint-German.
They Will Be Back
As the French Team returned home, they were welcomed by thousands in Paris despite the drab and chilly weather.
Fans let off fireworks and changed “Allez Les Bleus” and sang the French national anthem. Mbappe and his team stood alongside team captain Hugo Lloris stood on the balcony of the Hotel de Crillon.
After their second-place finish, the Frenchman promised that he and his compatriots will be back.
The win and the moment may have been Argentina’s and Messi’s but Mbappe’s efforts did not go unnoticed. For his incredible showing, he was welcomed back to France as a hero.
The French have a lot to look forward to in the years going forward as Mbappe steps into his own even more.
Mbappe’s Future Looks Exceedingly Bright
Mbappe is young and he has the bulk of his career ahead of him should he keep playing at the level he is playing at, he is bound to break and set more records to become of the best footballers the world has ever seen.
Pundits and even French football pundits are even speculating that the young talent could be better than French football legend Zinedine Zidane.
Current Bordeaux Coach Rio Mavuba spoke at length about Mbappe and said that even though he did not win a World Cup in 2022, time is still on the young Frenchman’s side and he may even get the chance to win two World Cup titles.
In truth, despite the promises his talents are showing, Mbappe still has a long way to go before he can match the achievements of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo or the current football king, Lionel Messi. But as both Messi and Ronaldo are unlikely to see another World Cup, Mbappe has every chance to step to the plate.