Kylian Mbappe said he will never get over the disappointment of losing the World Cup final after the France star scored the winner on his return to action for Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night. “I think I’m never going to get over it,” Mbappe said, speaking 10 days after he scored a hat-trick in the final against Argentina which the South Americans won in a penalty shootout. Mbappe said he had been through some “difficult times” since the defeat but he showed few signs of the setback in Qatar as he won and converted a 96th minute penalty to give PSG a last-gasp 2-1 win against Strasbourg on Ligue 1’s resumption following the World Cup break.
“As I said to my teammates, there is no reason why the club should pay the price for the failure of the national team, they are two very different situations,” 24-year-old said. “It does me good to come back with a win and to have a link with the club, the supporters and my teammates.”
Mbappe shrugged off Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez’s taunts after the World Cup final, saying he did not ‘waste energy on such futile things’ as he awaited the return of Paris Saint Germain teammate Lionel Messi.
During Argentina’s homecoming, a group of fans set alight a makeshift coffin lid adorned with a cross and a picture of Mbappe. Martinez clutched a toy baby with Mbappe’s face on it during an open-top bus parade through the capital on December 23. “The celebrations, they’re not my problem. I don’t waste any energy on such futile things,” Mbappe said. “What’s important for me is to give the best of myself for my club, and we’re looking forward for Leo (Messi) to return to continue scoring and winning matches.”
Asked about Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain Messi, who will return to the Paris club after the New Year, Mbappe said he congratulated him following the final. “It was a life’s goal for him, for me as well, but I failed, so you must always remain a good sportsman,” he said. Meanwhile, Neymar, who was left in tears after Brazil were knocked out by Croatia in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, was sent off for two yellow cards in PSG’s victory. Captain Marquinhos had put the hosts ahead with an early header but the Brazilian defender scored an own goal after 51 minutes as some of PSG’s stars appeared to be suffering a post-Qatar hangover.
Neymar picked up a yellow for a petulant flick in the face of a Strasbourg player and then earned another for a blatant dive in the penalty area just after the hour.
Mbappe had been a constant menace for PSG but was unable to find the target with two clear-cut chances. But deep into second-half injury time he was brought down in the penalty area and converted the winner from the spot in the 96th minute. The victory put PSG eight points ahead of Lens, who must beat Nice to keep up.