Before the 2018 World Cup commenced, no one would have expected a 19 year old to play a significant role in the triumph of the winning side.
Especially a side as France, laden with star names and attacking talent. And yet, Kylian Mbappé raced into global stardom in the space of four weeks.
It’s difficult to describe just how rapid his ascent was, tearing through sides with sheer speed, unburdened by the weight of expectation.
The boy from Bondy was no unknown quantity, of course. Having made his professional debut for Monaco in 2015-16, aged 16, then announced himself with an incredible full debut campaign: 15 goals and 11 assists in the 2016-17 league campaign, along with six goals in as many Champions League knockouts.
He took Monaco to an unexpected league title. And then Paris Saint-Germain came calling. Having just spent a record 222 million euros on Neymar, they spent another 180 million euros on Mbappé (the deal was a loan with option to buy).
He was the second most expensive player ever, the most expensive teenager, capping off a whirlwind year. His first year at PSG, pre-World Cup, saw him net 13 goals and seven assists in the league, with another four goals and three assists in the Champions League.
So it’s safe to say he was a known quantity. And yet this was an opportunity to truly announce himself, outside of Ligue 1, to lay down a marker.
Mbappe at the 2018 World Cup
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He was not part of France’s Euros 2016 run to the final at home; his meteoric ascent would start months after. This time, drawn with Denmark, Peru and Australia, the expectation was smooth progression to the knockouts. It wasn’t as easy, though.
They required a 58th minute penalty and an 81st minute own goal to overcome a resolute Australia. An attacking 4-3-3, with Mbappé up front, didn’t particularly click.
Manager Didier Deschamps preferred defensive solidity over attacking brilliance, shifting to a 4-2-3-1, with Mbappé on the right wing.
He became the youngest goalscorer in French World Cup history in a 1-0 win over Peru. With qualification secured, he was rested against Denmark, only coming on at the end in an eventual goalless draw.
Mbappe’s masterclass vs Argentina
It set up a Round of 16 tie with Argentina. This was significant on multiple levels. It was arguably the highest profile clash of the eight games, but importantly, it matched Mbappé against Lionel Messi, widely accepted as the greatest of all time.
If one expected goals, they sure got them, for what ensued was one of the more incredible games in recent World Cup history. What happened? To say Argentina were run-ragged would be a disservice.
The opener was created by the blistering run of Mbappé from the right, storming down the opposition’s half before being tugged in desperation by Marcos Rojo. The resulting penalty was converted by Antoine Griezmann to give them the lead.
Video: Mbappe’s insane pitch-length run vs Argentina
Argentina would go 2-1 up, via an Angel di Maria curler and a slightly fortunate deflection from Gabriel Mercado. France would equalise around 10 minutes later, from a Benjamin Pavard curler that might be the best looking goal in cup history.
Yet that was not the highlight of the game. It was now that Mbappé took the game by the scruff of its neck. The third goal saw him take control of a rebound in the box, dart viciously to the left, then hit it at power at the goalkeeper. 3-2.
He then got his second, as Olivier Giroud saw his compatriot advance with lightning speed, released the ball, and watched as Mbappé hit it first time with pace past the keeper. No teenager had scored two goals in a World Cup game since Pele in 1958.
This was the performance that legacies were built upon. And he was only 19. He sent Messi home, which in itself was defining; the young upstart proving his credentials to eventually take over from the ageing genius.
What’s striking from that performance was the sheer speed of his transitions. It got fans off their chairs, watching with awe and gaping mouths, hearts racing. An ageing Argentinian defence had no chance at all in restraining such pace.
France beat Uruguay in the quarter-finals 2-0, and then Belgium in the semi-finals 1-0, with both games being characteristically tight.
Both experienced sides were not going to provide Mbappé with the same amount of space as Argentina naively did.
Mbappe then scored in the final vs Croatia
That led to the final in Moscow, against Croatia. It was surprisingly open, with France going into the half-time break 2-1, considering the previous three finals went to extra time. Mbappé had a hand in the build-up for the third goal post the break.
Then, in the 65th minute, he received the ball from 25 yards. Where one may have expected him to dribble into the box and then shoot, he winded and swung hard into the bottom left corner.
Once again, he followed Pele’s footsteps in becoming the second teenager to score in a World Cup final. And of course he did so. This was Mbappé’s World Cup, and he reminded everyone of that fact once again. France closed out the game, winning 4-2, and lifting the cup.
Was that destiny? It might well be. Mbappé did not win the Golden Ball, or the Golden Boot, though he did take home the Young Player Award.
But he left the strongest impression, of a superstar that had fully exploded onto the scene. Pre-tournament, he still retained the barest sense of curiosity around him.
The Argentina game might be the most iconic result from that World Cup, and he was at the heart of it. After winning the World Cup at 19, the sport became his oyster.
One could say: Liberté, Égalité, Mbappé.
Quiz: Can you name all 30 of these ‘streets won’t forget’ players from World Cups?
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