Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Kylian Mbappe insisted he will “never” rewatch the 2022 World Cup final as “it might awaken some demons”.
The 27-year-old was hoping to win back-to-back World Cups with France after their success in 2018, but they lost on penalties to Argentina in the Qatar showpiece.
Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the final and scored his penalty in the shoot-out, but it was still not enough to get France over the line.
The only other player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final is Geoff Hurst, who did so for England against West Germany in 1966.
The 2022 final ended 3-3 before Argentina won on penalties, and Mbappe believes it is the greatest final in the competition’s history.
“The greatest final of all time? I think nothing matches it in terms of entertainment, the clash, the match scenario, with so many twists and turns,” Mbappe told Sorare.
— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) June 6, 2026
“It ended with penalties, the most brutal way for anyone.
“It was either Lionel Messi’s first World Cup win or a back-to-back for France, so it was historic no matter what.
“Have I watched the match again since? Never! I think if I do, it might awaken some demons.”
Mbappe has scored more goals (12) and recorded more direct goal involvements (14) than any other player across the previous two World Cups.
France will be hoping to regain their world title this summer, with their campaign kicking off against Senegal on June 16, before also facing Iraq and Norway in Group I.
Since 1998, France have reached the World Cup final in four of the seven editions (1998, 2006, 2018, 2022), at least twice more than any other nation during that period.
They will also attempt to become only the third team to reach the final in three consecutive editions after West Germany (1982, 1986, 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998, 2002).
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