World Cup 2022: Mbappe Gets Special Treatment After Brace vs Argentina

World Cup 2022: Mbappe Gets Special Treatment After Brace vs Argentina

Rene Otinga
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:20 PM
In this article:
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K.Mbappé
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  • Kylian Mbappe’s hat trick was not enough for France to win back to back World Cups
  • The 23-year old Frenchman almost single-handedly brought his nation back in the game after going 2-0 down
  • After forcing the game to extra time, Mbappe was spotted getting extraordinary recovery treatment in preparation for another 30 minutes of football

Kylian Mbappe’s importance to the French national team manifested itself on international TV as the Paris Saint Germain forward was given royal treatment at the end of 90 minutes in the World Cup final.

Despite a slow start to the game, Mbappe grew into the encounter and brilliantly gave his nation hope with two quick-fire goals to balance out a game which Argentina had been leading 2-0 for more than 70 minutes.

For his first goal on Sunday, he scored from the penalty spot after Nicolas Otamendi was judged to have hauled Randal Kolo Muani

Mbappe, World Cup
Kylian Mbappe has his legs massaged by physiotherapists during the break before extra time during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France. Photo by James Williamson
Source: Getty Images

His second goal was quite brilliant, as he rifled Marcus Thuram’s looping pass past Emiliano Martinez with a brilliant low volley to restore parity.

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It was clear Mbappe was an integral part of the France squad ahead of extra time, and because of this, Didier Deschamps and his staff were not willing to risk the superstar getting cramp over the next 30 minutes.

A video doing rounds online shows the Paris Saint Germain forward getting a massage while the rest of his team is getting instructions from the coaching staff.

How extra time went

As reported on BBC, Argentina went on to take the lead once again in extra time through Messi, but France were not going to let go of the contest that easily.

Mbappe once again was at the centre of his team’s attack as his long range effort was handled by Gonzalo Montiel and he scored a second penalty to force the contest to a shootout.

Argentina went on to win 4-2 on penalties, as Messi finally clinched the elusive World Cup.

For Mbappe, he could take comfort in the fact that he won the Golden Boot and also became the first player to score a hat trick in a World Cup final since Sir Geoff Hurst for England in 1966.

Fans hail Messi for breaking Drake curse

Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on how fans hailed Lionel Messi for apparently breaking a so-called curse by Drake.

On Sunday, December 18, Drake was trending on social media after it emerged he had placed an audacious million-dollar bet for Argentina to beat France in the final.

Fans who understand football and showbiz will be aware of the infamous “Drake curse”, which rose to prominence in 2016.

Authors
Rene Otinga photo
Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.