France journalist Philippe Auclair joined The Football Show to discuss Kylian Mbappe.
Kylian Mbappe scored a hattrick in the World Cup final and lost.
It's a unique achievement and maybe not one that Mbappe wants. But it will become a foot note in history, especially since it took place during arguably the greatest game of football ever played. Losing out to Lionel Messi is not exactly an embarrassing result either.
Mbappe already has a World Cup winners medal and plenty of individual accolades.
The Football Show wondered if his goal in the World Cup final was the best ever scored at a World Cup also. If it is, it replaced Angel Di Maria's from just 60 minutes prior. Philippe Auclair and Dion Fanning have both watched and attended plenty of World Cup games.
But neither journalist was instinctively discounting Mbappe's goal as one of the best ever scored on the biggest stage.
"Perhaps for me the greatest goal ever scored after Carlos Alberto perhaps in a World Cup final?" Auclair postured.
"Are we allowed to say that?"
Auclair cautiously broached the suggestion, but Joe Molloy was happy to pick up the argument and run with it.
"I think we are," Molloy answered.
"I think we're all hesitant to exclaim how phenomenal this was in so many different ways. Because you think you'd be accused of recency bias. But I think you're right. Liam Brady was on the television coverage here at halftime, and he was saying I think Argentina's goal was the best goal ever scored in a World Cup final.
"And it was like Mbappe heard him and said 'Well, have a look at this, buddy.'"
When you talk about the great goals there are plenty of obvious examples. Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup Final. Marco Van Basten in Euro 88. Mbappe's goal ticks every box. The finish is outstanding, even though the goalkeeper got a hand to it. But the build-up play is even better.
It happened on the biggest stage. It happened in one of the biggest moments. Mbappe isn't some random player either, he was the best player on the pitch for long stretches of the game.
To argue against this goal, you need one hell of an example.
Destiny was fulfilled with Lionel Messi's World Cup win.
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