The Fantastic Works not only appreciates beautiful pieces of literature and works of art, but we love to show appreciation for athletes who perform beautifully in their respected sports.
The Fantastic Works wishes you a Happy Birthday Mbappé!
The Fantastic Works would like to wish the best player in the World, Kylian Mbappé, a happy birthday as we take time remember his exhilarating performance for France in the 2022 World Cup Final.
On December 18, 2022, the World witnessed one of the most thrilling and dramatic World Cup finals in history at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. The match pitted defending champions France against Argentina, and it was Kylian Mbappé who stole the show with a breathtaking hat-trick.
The Match Unfolds
The first half was dominated by Argentina, with Messi and Di Maria putting their team 2-0 ahead. France struggled to find their rhythm, and Mbappé was largely a spectator, managing only 11 touches in the first half. The second half began much the same way, with Argentina controlling the game and France struggling to break through. France’s coach Didier Deschamps made two bold substitutions. Giroud and Ousmane Dembélé were replaced by Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani.
Mbappé’s First Goal
The game took a turn in the 80th minute, when France were awarded a penalty. Randal Kolo Muani was fouled inside the, with Mbappé stepping up to take the penalty the most important penalty of his career. With ice in his veins, Mbappé calmly converted the penalty to make it 2-1.
The Spectacular Equalizer
Just 97 seconds later, Mbappé struck again. A one-two from Thuram was met with a superb volley which brought France back to 2-2, a truly spectacular goal. The stadium erupted in cheers as Mbappé celebrated his second goal of the match putting France right back into the game.
Extra Time Drama
The match went into extra time, and Argentina regained the lead with Messi scoring in the 109th minute. But Mbappé was not done yet. In the 118th minute, he scored his third goal of the game from the penalty spot again, making it 3-3 and forcing a penalty shootout.
The Penalty Shootout
In the penalty shootout, Mbappé would put away his spot kick, scoring 4 goals in the entire game, with his teammates Coman and Tchoauméni missing their spot kicks and France ultimately losing 4-2.
A truly heroic performance by Mbappé, witnessed by billions of people across the globe, a performance that makes him an absolute legend.
Mbappé’s Legacy
Mbappé’s hat-trick made him the first player since Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score three goals in a World Cup final. Mbappé also won the Golden Boot for being the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals. His performance was hailed as one of the greatest in World Cup history, and he cemented his status as one of France’s greatest ever players.
Two years later, Mbappé returned to Lusail Stadium with Real Madrid and scored yet another goal. This time in the Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca. Mbappé’s journey from World Cup heartbreak to continued success is a testament to his resilience and talent.
Mbappé’s performance in the 2022 World Cup final will be remembered for generations to come, not just for the goals he scored, but for the sheer determination and spirit he displayed when France needed him to on the biggest stage.
The Fantastic Works