Kylian Mbappe, aged 27, netted two goals in the World Cup third-place match as France faced England, ultimately losing 4-6. The match was a dramatic affair, especially given that France was down 0-4 at halftime before making a strong comeback in the second half, scoring four times and narrowly missing additional opportunities.
With his latest performance, Mbappe has now become the leading scorer of the tournament, tallying 10 goals, and also the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals.
Kylian Mbappe: “This Game Won’t Diminish Didier Deschamps’ Legacy”
Reflecting on the match, Mbappe expressed his perspective on France’s performance. “There were two different halves. In the first half, I understand those who say it looked like a farce, that we disrespected the jersey. I would say we were just human. Unfortunately, we were completely collapsed. They woke us up pretty well,” he stated.
In the second half, he noted, “We became high-level players again, mental machines that try to suppress emotions. We managed to win that second half, but in the end, we still lost. I feel worse for the coach. We wanted to do something for him, but sadly, the first half gives the impression that we abandoned him. However, that’s not what we intended to convey. This game won’t tarnish Didier Deschamps’ legacy,” Mbappe added, as reported by RMC Sport.
Kylian Mbappe: “Messi Will Score in the Final, That’s Certain”
Currently, Mbappe has one more World Cup goal than Lionel Messi, who is set to play in the final against Spain on Sunday evening. Mbappe commented, “Messi will score, that’s certain. I’m just trying to help my team win. Scoring many goals in the World Cup elevates you to certain spheres.”
He concluded, “I would have preferred not to be the all-time top scorer and to play in tomorrow’s match. It’s good for my legacy, but today that’s not the first thing on my mind,” said the French captain.
