On Sunday, Mbappe can become the youngest player since Pele to win two World Cups at the age of 21. Mbappe, who turns 24 two days after the final, is the face of the new generation of footballers and the joint-top scorer at this World Cup with five goals.
The World Cup in Qatar, which will be Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s last, will undoubtedly mark the end of their dominance of the sport after nearly two decades.
Mbappe and France hope to usher in a new era of dominance for a nation that has reached the World Cup final for the fourth time in seven attempts, while Messi only has one more chance to win the elusive title.
There were legitimate concerns that France would suffer the same fate as they did as holders in 2002 and exit the group stage as a result of a squad decimated
France might not have set the world land in transit to the last, yet they have been bosses of the key minutes – – showing savagery and tenacity when it makes the biggest difference.
Much of that is due to Mbappe, the most feared player in the world, whose goals have helped France become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win the World Cup.
Hugo Lloris, captain, and goalkeeper stated, “We work together, but when you start to come close to the title in this competition, you need your main players at their best.”
In 2018, Mbappe made his international debut with a pair of goals against Argentina in the round of 16 in Russia, where he won the award for a best young player.
He became the youngest player to score in a World Cup final at the age of 19 since Pele, who was 17 at the time, did so in 1958.
Mbappe already has more goals in World Cup finals than either Diego Maradona or Ronaldo from Portugal.
In his first major tournament, the 2018 edition, he scored four goals, scoring France’s fourth goal in the 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final.
Only Just Fontaine has scored more World Cup goals for France than Fontaine, who did so an incredible 13 times during the 1958 tournament in Sweden.
Hard to see the breaking point
Mbappe has scored multiple times in 362 games for club and country, a count that far surpasses those of Messi and Ronaldo at a similar age.
However, Mbappe’s involvement with Les Bleus is not motivated by any personal accolades.
He stated, “The only goal for me is to win the World Cup.”
That’s what I’m picturing in my head. I’m not here for that. I’m here to win and help the French public team.
Although France has a lot of talent, Mbappe is simply exceptional.
Mbappe has been granted permission to roam by France coach Didier Deschamps, and he frequently takes full advantage of that freedom, rarely returning to assist in defense during this World Cup.
When Real Madrid appeared to be on the verge of taking Mbappe away from the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain made every effort to keep him at the club.
President Emmanuel Macron admitted that he advised the striker to sign a new three-year contract to stay in his home country. Mbappe signed the contract to stay in his home country.
Macron plans to again go to Sunday’s last at Lusail Arena, where Mbappe gets the opportunity to involve the stage cleared by Messi and Ronaldo – – and present his defense for a first Ballon d’Or.