DDecember 18, 2022 was a day that will go down in soccer history as France and Argentina played the most intense World Cup final in living memory.
The event was already special, but ending in a 3-3 draw and deciding the tournament on penalties was an added bonus. In the end, Lionel Messi and his teammates were crowned champions at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium, ending their dream of becoming two-time champions of France. A few years later, Kylian Mbappu spoke about it.
Lionel Messi reminds us who is king with outrageous golasso during Argentina training
Mbapp reflects on the 2022 Qatar World Cup
Although she did not become the champion, “Kiki” was the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals. Furthermore, his three goals in a tough final made him the second player to score a hat-trick this year, after England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966. Kylian recalled this historic day in football:
“It was a crazy game that Argentina deserved to win, because they were the better team throughout the game. There were moments when we were better, but overall we deserved it,” the young Frenchman said. “It makes us sad, but we must not forget because 2026 is approaching. We don’t want to be sad again.”
Messi also won the Ballon d’Or in 2023, sparking debate among fans who believe other players, such as Mbappe, deserved the award as well. But Kylian said there was no doubt about who would win the prestigious award. “The moment the 2022 World Cup final ended, I knew that Messi had won the Ballon d’Or. Like[Erling]Haaland, I had a great season, but winning the World Cup changes everything.”
Moreover, the young star, currently shining at Real Madrid, played alongside Leo at Paris Saint-Germain from 2021 to 2023, but did not consider it impossible given Leo’s desire to play for a rival club. “My dream was always to play for Real Madrid. I never thought of going to Barcelona and I thought he would be there forever so I thought I would have the opportunity to play not with him but against him, but I actually played and it was very special,” said Kiki. “I’ve learned a lot from him and I want to thank him. It’s been a very rewarding two years. It’s a great opportunity to have such a special player nearby.”
Kylian, 26, knows what it’s like to win a World Cup (Russia 2018), but he also knows what it’s like to lose. After both experiences, Mbappu has his sights set on 2026, when it will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“I want to win the World Cup in 2026. My dream is to lift the World Cup again. I was lucky enough to do it once and reach the final again. Losing hurts a lot, especially in the final…I want to reach the final for the third time and win this time.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held from June 11th to July 19th.
