French President Emmanuel Macron was seen awkwardly attempting to console Kylian Mbappe following Argentina’s 4-2 penalty shootout triumph in the World Cup final.
Mbappe cut a forlorn figure after Argentina’s victory despite his heroics, having become just the second man to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final, with the match ending 3-3 after extra time.
Macron was seen attempting to console Mbappe following the penalty shootout, with the French President lifting the forward off the pitch and gripping his arm.
Mbappe attemped to walk away from Macron, as the politician supportively spoke to him.
After addressing Mbappe, Macron appeared to have been blanked in the aftermath of the defeat by French head coach Didier Deschamps.
The French President again attempted to console Mbappe during the post-match presentation, when the PSG star received his runners-up medal and golden boot.
‘It’s extraordinary what Mbappé did, but the whole team,’ Macron told RMC Sport. ‘Mbappe is a great player but he’s young.
‘I told him he’s only 23, he was the World Cup top scorer, he’s won a World Cup, he’s been to a final.
‘I was as sad as him.
‘I told him he’d made us very proud, and in the end we’ve lost a football match, we came so close. That’s how it is in sport.’
Macron added that he had asked Deschamps to continue as French coach, with the 54-year-old’s contract expiring at the end of the World Cup.
Mbappe scored two crucial goals for France to force extra-time in the final, after the defending champions had trailed 2-0.
He also confidently dispatched his penalty deep into extra-time to force penalties, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the final since Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966.
Hurst tweeted during the match: ‘Many congratulations to Mbappe, whatever happens. I’ve had a great run!’
Mbappe also became the highest goal-scorer in the history of World Cup finals, having scored once in France’s triumphant 4-2 victory against Croatia in 2018.
Mbappe stepped up first and scored his spot-kick in the shootout before two crucial misses from Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni handed Argentina their first World Cup triumph since 1986.
Despite failing to win France back-to-back World Cup titles, Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot with his blistering hat-trick.
