World Cup Defeat Can't Stop France's Star Player

The World Cup is often about the biggest stars on the planet turning up on the grandest stage for their shot at footballing immortality. That was no different in Qatar at the end of 2022, as Lionel Messi’s wait to be spoken in the same breath as Diego Maradona in his homeland finally came to an end. Messi’s excellent displays throughout the competition ensured that Argentina was finally able to land a third success at the prestigious event.

However, he was nearly upstaged on his massive evening in Qatar’s World Cup final by his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe. The forward scored the first hat-trick in a final since Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966, but somehow the winger still ended up on the losing team.

Mbappe’s Stunning World Cup Display

When the World Cup got underway at the end of November, many were already looking past France when it came to the potential winner. Defending champions have fared extremely poorly throughout recent editions of the competition, but France managed to get off to a perfect start with a 4-1 win over Argentina.

Mbappe netted his first goal of the tournament in the final 20 minutes, and the forward continued to dazzle in France’s second group stage game against Denmark, scoring twice. The reigning champions managed to top Group D with ease, despite a loss in their final group game against Tunisia.

The PSG forward continued his excellent displays in the round of 16, as Mbappe scored twice in a 3-1 win against Poland, but the first big challenge for France came in the quarterfinals. Despite failing to score against England, Mbappe was lively in his battle against Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker. France managed to book their spot in the final with a 2-0 semi-final success against Morocco.

Mbappe’s Final

The 2022 World Cup final will live long in the memory of football fans, as it will go down as one of the best finals in history. Argentina looked to be coasting towards glory after going 2-0 up inside the opening 26 minutes, as France looked way off the pace required. In fact, France didn’t finally get going until the final ten minutes, as they turned the game on its head in two stunning minutes.

Mbappe gave his nation a lifeline from the penalty spot after 80 minutes, before he netted a stunning volley just under two minutes later. Messi then thought he had won the World Cup once again for Argentina in the 108th minute. However, Mbappe wasn’t about to be upstaged on his big night, as he dragged France level once again from the penalty spot in the 118th minute. The shootout was required to declare the World Cup winners, and despite Mbappe netting his spot kick, France was beaten 4-2.

Sights Back On PSG Glory

Mbappe quickly returned to club action following the World Cup, as he bids to put the final disappointment behind him. The top scorer from the 2022 World Cup will be hoping to lead PSG to a second straight Ligue 1 title this term, but the Parisians look set to face a challenging fight to retain their title, as they hold a slender three-point lead over Lens at the halfway stage.

However, PSG’s season is likely to hinge on their performances in the Champions League. It is the one major accolade that has evaded PSG since its financial takeover.

Therefore, it’s little surprise to see them among the favorites to win the prestigious European honor with sports betting sites at jouerenlignefr.org. Given the form that both Mbappe and Lionel Messi are in at present, it may be hard to see them having a better chance than this season.

But, if PSG is to win the prestigious honor this season, then they will have to do it the hard way. The French champions could only finish second in their Group H campaign, and they will come up against German giants Bayern Munich, who won six from six, in the round of 16.

Conclusion - Will Mbappe Win The Ballon d’Or?

There is no greater honor for a player than winning the Ballon d’Or. It will be Mbappe’s goal to win the accolade during his career, and his performances this term will certainly put him in the conversation.

However, it could be hard to see past Messi winning the award once again following Argentina’s World Cup success, especially if PSG goes on and win the Champions League at the end of the 2022-23 season. But, it remains extremely likely that Mbappe will win the accolade at some point in his career.