by Leave me alone, Mr President! Kylian Mbappe looks desperate to ignore Emmanuel Macron’s repeated clumsy attempts to console him – after the French leader’s greatly over-the-top goal celebrations
French President Emmanuel Macron was seen awkwardly consoling Kylian Mbappe after Argentina’s 4-2 penalty shootout triumph in the World Cup final.
Mbappe cut a desperate figure after Argentina’s victory despite his heroism, becoming the second man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, with the game ending 3-3 after extra time.
Macron was seen trying to console Mbappe after the penalty shootout, with the French president lifting the striker off the pitch and grabbing his arm.
French President Emmanuel Macron tried to console Kylian Mbappé on the pitch
Macron offered the striker more words of support during the post-match presentation
Mbappe tried to walk away from Macron, as the politician spoke to him in support.
After addressing Mbappe, Macron appears to have been cleared following the defeat of French head coach Didier Deschamps.
The French president again tried to console Mbappe during the post-match presentation, when the PSG star received his runners-up medal and golden boot.
Mbappe finished as Qatar’s top scorer but cut a desperate figure after the final loss
“It’s extraordinary what Mbappé has done, but the whole team,” Macron told RMC Sport. “Mbappe is a great player but he is young.
“I told him he was only 23, he was the top scorer in the World Cup, he won a World Cup, he was in the final.
“I was as sad as him.
“I told him he made us very proud, and in the end we lost a football match, we were so close.” It’s like that in sports.
Mbappe became only the second player to score a World Cup hat-trick
Macron had been pictured celebrating Mbappe’s goals in the final at the Lusail stadium
Macron added that he had asked Deschamps to stay on as France coach as the 54-year-old’s contract expires when the World Cup ends.
Mbappe scored two crucial goals for France to force extra time in the final, after the defending champions led 2-0.
He also sent his penalty confidently into extra time to force penalties, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the final since Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966.
Hurst tweeted during the match: “Big congratulations to Mbappe no matter what.” I had a great race!’
Mbappe also became the top scorer in World Cup finals history, having scored once in France’s triumphant 4-2 win over Croatia in 2018.
Mbappe stepped in first and netted his spot-kick in the shoot-out before two crucial misses from Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni handed Argentina their first World Cup triumph since 1986.
Although he didn’t win back-to-back World Cup titles in France, Mbappe won the Golden Boot with his dazzling hat-trick.
