Raise Your Head, Mbappe! Golden Boot Instead of Victory

Hat-trick in the Final After 56 Years
Despite Surpassing Messi with 8 Goals as Top Scorer, Shows Regretful Expression on the Podium

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Kylian Mbapp? (23, Paris Saint-Germain) had to end the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup with a regretful expression despite winning the Golden Boot (top scorer). He had everything except the championship. Although he narrowly lost in the final via penalty shootout, he showed a performance on par with Lionel Messi (35, Paris Saint-Germain), who had a coronation as the emperor in personal records, proving himself as the next generation football emperor.

On the 19th (Korean time), France drew 3-3 with Argentina after extra time in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final held at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, but lost 2-4 in the penalty shootout.

In a match where Argentina dominated from the early stages, Mbapp? was at the center of France's counterattack. Mbapp? scored a penalty kick in the 79th minute of the second half after trailing 0-2, recording a goal to chase. Just two minutes later, Mbapp? volleyed the ball into Argentina's net again, restoring balance to the match. Mbapp? also scored another penalty kick in the 113th minute of extra time while trailing 2-3, bringing the score back to even.

With this penalty kick goal, Mbapp? became the first player in 56 years since England's striker Geoff Hurst (1966) to record a hat-trick in a World Cup final. Additionally, he scored a total of 8 goals in this World Cup, surpassing Messi (7 goals) to claim the top scorer title.

Although Mbapp? received the 'Golden Boot' awarded to the World Cup top scorer, he stood on the podium with a continuously gloomy expression. Everything was perfect except for the championship, but this World Cup ended as Messi's 'Last Dance.'

Messi set various personal records related to the World Cup in this tournament, but it is expected that Mbapp? will break the World Cup records held by Messi in the future. Mbapp? is still very young, about to turn twenty-four on the 20th.

Messi scored 13 goals over five World Cup appearances, but Mbapp? scored an impressive 12 goals in just two World Cups.

Mbapp? scored 4 goals in the 2018 Russia World Cup and added 8 goals in this tournament, recording a total of 12 World Cup goals before turning 24, surpassing football emperor Pel? in this category as the top scorer. Pel? scored a total of 7 goals before turning 24.

Mbapp? also scored in the final of the Russia World Cup four years ago, becoming the first player in 60 years since Brazil's Vav? (1958, 1962) to score in consecutive World Cup finals.

The record for the most World Cup goals is also within reach. The all-time top scorer record in the World Cup is held by German striker Miroslav Klose (44, retired), who scored 16 goals over four World Cups from the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. If Mbapp? scores 4 or more goals in the 2026 North American World Cup, he can break Klose's record. Mbapp? has narrowed the gap to just one goal behind Just Fontaine (13 goals), the French player with the most World Cup goals.

Since debuting for the senior national team in 2017, Mbapp? has scored a total of 36 goals in A matches, including this World Cup, ranking 6th in all-time top scorers for the French national team. He is just one goal behind Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, 37 goals), who is 5th. The record for the most goals in French A matches is held by Thierry Henry (45, retired) with 51 goals.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.