2022 World Cup: Kylian Mbappé, more than ever the leader of the Blues?


The boss of the Blues has struck! Expected as the attacking leader of the French world champions after the withdrawal of the Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema, the Paris Saint-Germain striker did not refuse to assume this status: here he is the equal of Zinédine Zidane with 31 goals in Blue, and that of Lionel Messi with seven goals at the World Cup. At 23…

Mute during the two previous confrontations against the Danes (two defeats in 2022) and muzzled for the first 60 minutes on Saturday at the 974 stadium, the Parisian knew how to turn his back and be patient, to strike at the right time.

Lightning Counterattack

As usual, it was from the speed of the Parisian that the shift came, on a lightning counter-attack and after a luminous combination with Theo Hernandez, another rocket from the blue clan (61st). And in the 86th minute, he was clinical to take over from the thigh, at the limit of offside, a cross from Antoine Griezmann.

In a fraction of a second, “Kyky” was already celebrating this double with the supporters, shouting alongside them with a rage rarely seen in crack in this jersey. Author of 14 goals in the last 12 matches of the Blues, Mbappé now has 31 goals in 61 international matches, and already seven in two editions of the World Cup.

Like Zizou

Thirty-one is the number of goals by the legend Zizou, 7th best director in the history of the Blues. At the World Cup, only Just Fontaine and his 13 goals in one edition exceeds the prodigy among the French scorers of the queen competition. Cristiano Ronaldo has eight… in five World Cups!

“Kylian, we all know him, he wants to make his mark in all competitions and he is doing it,” smiled Jules Koundé after the match. The 23-year-old superstar displays a smile and an astonishing good mood in Qatar, which contrasts with the spleen brought back from a frustrating Euro-2021, ending with a missed shot on goal which had marked him deeply.

Totally involved in the planetary event which revealed him to the eyes of the world in 2018, at 19, “Kyky” also shows an interesting complicity with Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, his attacking partners. But also with Ousmane Dembélé, one of his relatives in the group, who leads the right wing.

“Strength and serenity”

“He is full of confidence, he exudes a lot of strength and serenity. I have been talking to him for a while, I knew he was going to be ready because it is his competition”, greeted coach Didier Deschamps on Tuesday. evening after the victory against Australia.

“He is part of a collective, it’s important, with the ability to make a difference alone too. In the offensive field, having Kylian at this level is very important for my team”, added “DD”.

After two meetings, the number 10 of the Blues is therefore logically at the top of the ranking of scorers of the World Cup-2022, alongside Enner Valencia, the Ecuadorian. Will he let anyone overtake him?



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