Kylian Mbappe Refuses to Rewatch 2022 World Cup Final: ‘It Might Awaken Some Demons’

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than two weeks away at the time of his remarks, Kylian Mbappe opened up about the psychological weight of France’s defeat to Argentina in the 2022 final — a match widely regarded as one of the greatest in the competition’s history.

Speaking in an interview with Sorare, the Real Madrid forward and France captain revealed he has deliberately avoided going back to watch footage of the December 2022 showpiece in Lusail, Qatar. “Have I watched the match again since? Never! I think if I do, it might awaken some demons,” Mbappe said.

The final, played at Lusail Iconic Stadium on 18 December 2022, ended 3-3 after extra time before Argentina claimed the title 4-2 on penalties. For Mbappe, the result stings not only because of the team’s failure to retain the trophy, but because of the extraordinary individual effort he produced in a losing cause.

The forward scored a stunning hat-trick on the night, including a brace in just 95 seconds that pulled Didier Deschamps’ side back from a two-goal deficit in the dying stages of the second half. Despite that heroics, France ultimately fell short. “The greatest final of all time? I think nothing matches it in terms of entertainment, the clash, and the match scenario, with so many twists and turns,” he reflected. “It ended with penalties, the most brutal way for anyone.”

Mbappe also acknowledged the broader historical stakes of that evening in Doha. “It was either Lionel Messi‘s first World Cup win or a back-to-back for France, so it was historic no matter what,” he said. Messi did claim his first World Cup title that night, while France were denied what would have been consecutive championships following their 2018 triumph in Russia.

At just 23 years old during the 2022 final, Mbappe became the youngest player in history to appear in two World Cup finals and the only player ever to score three goals in a final and finish on the losing side. His performances throughout the tournament earned him the Golden Boot, awarded to the competition’s top scorer.

Now 27, Mbappe heads into the 2026 edition with his sights set on further history. He currently stands fifth on the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring chart with 12 goals, behind Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who holds the all-time record with 16. A strong tournament could see Mbappe close the gap significantly on that benchmark.

France begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday, 16 June, before facing Iraq and Norway in their remaining group stage fixtures. Les Bleus enter the tournament as one of the leading contenders for the title, with Mbappe expected to be central to their ambitions.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first edition to feature 48 teams and is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.