Kylian Mbappé was able to at least briefly hide his World Cup frustration upon his meteoric return. Just ten days after France defeated Argentina in the final in Qatar, the superstar’s last-minute penalty gave Paris Saint-Germain a successful end to the year.
World Cup top scorer Mbappé tore his shirt off his body after the penalty in the 6th minute of added time in the home game against penultimate Racing Strasbourg and twirled it over his head. Mbappé danced with his teammates Sergio Ramos and Achraf Hakimi in front of enthusiastic PSG fans in Paris’ Prinzenpark. Then the 24-year-old picked up a yellow card in a 2-1 (1-0) Ligue 1 draw for his ministering and then returned to the catacombs with his thoughts on Qatar.
The lost World Cup final has an effect
“I think you’ll never stomach it,” said Mbappé, admitting he fell short of a 4-2 penalty win in the final against Argentina. “I tried to come back with the best energy possible and be as positive as possible. I didn’t play a crazy game, but I kept believing in myself and pushing because I knew you could turn the tide out of nowhere, and we did it very late in the game,” Mbappé continued.
The international player took the flattering penalty against Strasbourg himself. After a fatal error by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde in preparation, Mbappé started in the penalty area. Gerzino Nyamsi held him by the right arm and the forward number 1 did not let this invitation to fall slip. Mbappé then converted his fourth penalty (three in the World Cup final alone) in his last two games.
“They are different emotions, different scenarios. At the World Cup you lose, here you know that a penalty will bring you victory. You didn’t know it at the World Cup», Mbappé described the different starting positions.
Neymar expelled
When the goalkeeper made Prinzenpark foam with happiness, team-mate Neymar hadn’t been on the pitch for a long time. The renowned coach, who failed with Brazil in the World Cup in the quarter-final against Croatia, has not been able to overcome his frustration. Neymar saw a yellow-red card for a swallow in the 62nd minute and had to go to the dressing room early.
The Parisian Argentine superstar was completely absent. World champion Lionel Messi can still enjoy days off until the new year. Of course, Mbappé was also asked about the 35-year-old and the Argentine player’s celebration after their triumph at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. Following the final, videos circulated on the internet of the Argentines dancing in their cabin, one of them mocking goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez Mbappé and demanding, “A minute’s silence for Mbappé!”
The attacker has now reacted rather coldly. “Celebrating is not my problem. You shouldn’t waste your energy on trivial things, for me it’s important to do my best for the club” Mbappé said. “We will wait for Leo’s return to win matches and score again.”
Paris coach Christophe Galtier is not afraid that the reunion between Messi and Mbappé could be problematic. Not even after Mbappé was mocked by Martinez. It wasn’t Messi who did it, Galtier stressed on the eve of the home match against Strasbourg: “There’s no reason to screw it up.”
