France captain Kylian Mbappe has candidly admitted that he has never rewatched his country's heartbreaking 2022 World Cup final defeat against Argentina.
France captain Kylian Mbappé has candidly admitted that he has never rewatched his country's heartbreaking 2022 World Cup final defeat against Argentina. Despite netting a historic hat-trick during the thrilling showpiece event in Qatar, the Real Madrid superstar confessed that revisiting the painful memory could reopen old psychological wounds.
The French skipper opened up about the lasting emotional toll of the dramatic showpiece event in Doha, where his side At just 23 years old, the forward became the youngest player to feature in two separate finals and the only one to finish on the losing side despite scoring three goals. His extraordinary performance secured the tournament's Golden Boot, but the ultimate collective disappointment continues to overshadow those individual records.
Speaking in an emotional interview conducted just one week before the 2026 tournament, the prolific forward explained his reluctance to revisit the cinematic encounter. :"The greatest final of all time? I think nothing matches it in terms of entertainment, the clash, the match scenario, with so many twists and turns. It ended with penalties, the most brutal way for anyone.
"It was either Lionel Messi’s first World Cup win or a back-to-back for France, so it was historic no matter what. Have I watched the match again since? Never!
I think if I do, it might awaken some demons.
"His equalising volley in the 81st minute clocked a staggering 123.34 km/h By converting his second penalty during extra time, he matched Geoff Hurst’s iconic 1966 feat and became the highest scorer in World Cup final history with five career goals. Boasting an incredible international record of 56 goals in 97 caps, the dynamic attacker is now preparing to lead his nation into ain North America.
Les Bleus will launch their tournament itinerary versus Senegal at the MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, June 16, before facing subsequent group fixtures against Iraq and Norway. The opening clash automatically evokes dark historical parallels to the 2002 tournament, where a defending French team suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat at the hands of the West African nation.2026 World Cup Quarterfinal Odds: Which Squads Will Make Final 8?2026 World Cup Odds: Spain Narrowly Favored Over FranceGet more from the FIFA Men's World Cup2026 World Cup Quarterfinal Odds: Which Squads Will Make Final 8?2026 World Cup Odds: Spain Narrowly Favored Over FranceFOX SPORTS™, SPEED™, SPEED.
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