Immortality eludes Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe stood motionless, hands on his knees, his gaze fixed on the grass beneath him. Around him, Spain celebrated their masterclass. For the first time at this World Cup, the man who had looked destined to bend history to his will had no answer.
Footballing immortality had been within touching distance. On a sweltering afternoon in Dallas, it slipped away.
France arrived in the semifinal believing they had the firepower to reach a third successive World Cup final. Mbappe had led the charge, scoring eight goals to sit level with Lionel Messi atop the Golden Boot standings while moving to 20 World Cup goals in his career.
Another final, and perhaps another title, would have taken his already glittering legacy a step closer to footballing immortality. He was just another win away from being only the second player, after Brazil’s Cafu (1994, 1998, 2002), to play in three consecutive World Cup finals.
Instead, Spain delivered the performance of the tournament.
Luis de la Fuente's side controlled every phase of the contest, denying France the space and rhythm that had carried them this far. The slick attacking football that had made Les Bleus one of the competition's most feared teams disappeared under Spain's relentless pressing, intelligent possession, and defensive discipline.
France fell behind for the first time in the tournament in the 22nd minute when Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area, allowing Mikel Oyarzabal to calmly convert the spot-kick. From there, Spain never loosened their grip.
"It's difficult when you don't change the plan of Spain," Mbappe admitted afterwards.
The French captain never found the defining moment that has become his trademark. It was a sharp contrast to the 2022 World Cup final, when his stunning hattrick almost rescued France against Argentina before they lost on penalties. Back then, defeat did little to diminish his greatness.
This time, Spain left him without a defining act.
The disappointment should not overshadow another remarkable tournament. At just 27, Mbappe already owns a World Cup winner's medal, has reached the latter stages of four successive major tournaments, and remains within touching distance of Messi's overall World Cup scoring record of 21.
With at least two more World Cups likely ahead of him, history remains his to chase. Yet football has always judged its greatest players by the finest of margins.
"You take all the glory when you win. When you don't win... you have to take the blame. It's part of my game, my life, and as captain, I have to take all the responsibility," Mbappe said.
Mbappe's story is far from over. But for one painful afternoon in Dallas, footballing immortality stood within touching distance for him before Spain quietly took it away.
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