Kylian Mbappe was on the losing side of the 2022 World Cup finals, despite scoring a hat-trick. The French forward was the reason behind the comeback in the second half, which allowed the 2018 winners to be able to equalise 2-2.
And while he did not end up winning the trophy, despite finding the back of the net four times including the penalty shootout, he did go home with the Golden Boot award. Mbappe scored eight goals during the tournament, earning the award ahead of Lionel Messi.
Kylian Mbappe’s phenomenal 2022 World Cup campaign
At 23, Mbappe is only the second player in the history of the sport to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. And adding the four goals during the 2018 campaign, he now has 12 goals in 14 games at the finals.
The forward can still play two to three subsequent editions of the tournament. And with the kind of talent that France is producing, they will be strong favourites to win the trophy once more in the near future.
◾ WC winner at 19
— ESPN India (@ESPNIndia) December 19, 2022
◾ WC finalist at 23
◾ Golden Boot winner
◾ A hat-trick in a WC final
◾ 1st man to score 7+ goals at a single WC since Ronaldo in 2002
◾ The most goals by a 23-year-old or younger in a single WC
Let's all take a moment to appreciate Kylian Mbappé 👏 pic.twitter.com/Wp8wPvGNMo
Kylian Mbappe opened his scoring against Australia, before netting a brace against Denmark and Poland. He failed to get on the scoresheet against England and Morocco in the knockout stages, before ending the campaign with a hat-trick.
By the time the forward plays the coming editions of the World Cup, he will only get better. And he could easily overtake Miroslav Klose for the most goals at the finals. The Germany legend has 16 goals in 24 matches, with none coming from penalties. Mbappe, on the other hand, has scored two penalties in the finals, but has a great future still ahead of him.
