Good morning footie fans
Kylian Mbappe was inconsolable on the France bench as he watched Lionel Messi lift the World Cup trophy.
The French superstar became the first player since Sir Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in the biggest game in football with a stunning treble against Argentina.
He then netted his penalty in a dramatic shootout – only to see rival keeper Emiliano Martinez save twice to condemn the reining champions to defeat after a 3-3 draw.
Mbappe, 23, went into the showpiece in Qatar level with Paris Saint-Germain, and Argentina talisman, Lionel Messi, on five goals in the tournament.
Messi himself had netted twice in the breathtaking final – making it seven goals a piece – when Mbappe was presented an opportunity to level things up in the 118th minute.
And he held his nerve under the highest of pressure to clinch the Golden Boot, and keep his nation’s dreams alive.
Mbappe’s hat-trick denied Argentina top spot in the Fifa rankings – despite their World Cup final shoot-out joy.
Mbappe’s late second penalty earned France a 3-3 draw after extra time – enough to keep Brazil at No1 in the list.
That won’t be any consolation to the history-making striker as Lionel Messi inspired Argentina’s ultimate triumph in one of the greatest ever finals, clinched 4-2 on penalties.
And for now it won’t mean much either to Brazil, who are still smarting from their shock quarter-final shoot-out loss to Croatia.
Meanwhile, England remain in fifth spot following their agonising last-eight exit to the French and Wales drop out of the top 20.
Qatar kings Argentina moved up to second in the rankings, with France rising to third and Belgium’s ageing golden generation dropping two places to fourth following their surprise exit at the group stage.
Fans all said the same thing as Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacted to Lionel Messi winning the World Cup.
The Swedish giant, 41, was in the stands of the Lusail Stadium as Argentina eventually beat France in a truly epic final.
Argentina led 2-0 and 3-2 before Messi at long last got his hands on the World Cup trophy after Gonzalo Montiel slotted the winning penalty into the back of the net.
But as Messi fell to his knees in joyful celebration, one man looked rather unimpressed.
Ibrahimovic remained stoney-faced with his wife Helena Seger.
That is despite his former team-mate finally getting his hands on the one trophy that eluded him.
England will get a trophy from the World Cup in Qatar, even if is not the big one they wanted.
The Three Lions have been awarded the Fair Play Trophy as they had the best disciplinary record during the tournament.
Gareth Southgate’s side only picked up one booking as they battled to the quarter-finals before their defeat to France.
That booking went to defender Harry Maguire, who was cautioned after an elbow to Antonie Griezmann in the 90th minute of the game.
Some fans on social media saw the funny side of the award, as one tweeted: “It came home after all”.
Karim Benzema has reportedly cut off all contact with the French national team.
The striker has furiously claimed that he was forced out of the squad after picking up an injury before the start of the tournament.
He even rejected the chance to fly out to Qatar to watch his teammates in the World Cup final against Argentina.
L’Equipe is now reporting that the Real Madrid star has subsequently cut off all contact with the France staff.
And according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, he is unlikely to play for France again with Deschamps as manager.
