Mbappé Admits He Has Never Rewatched 2022 World Cup Final: ‘It Might Awaken Some Demons’

France captain Kylian Mbappé has revealed that he has never rewatched the dramatic 2022 FIFA World Cup final, admitting that revisiting the match could bring back painful memories.

The final, widely regarded as one of the greatest in football history, saw Argentina defeat France on penalties after an unforgettable 3-3 draw in Qatar.

Despite scoring a remarkable hat-trick, Mbappé was unable to prevent Les Bleus from suffering heartbreak as Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, lifted the World Cup trophy for the first time since 1986.

Speaking in an interview with Sorare, the Real Madrid star reflected on the historic encounter and the emotions surrounding it.

“The greatest final of all time? I think nothing matches it in terms of entertainment, the clash, the match scenario, with so many twists and turns,” Mbappé said.

“It ended with penalties, the most brutal way for anyone.”

The French forward acknowledged the significance of the occasion, noting that the match carried major historical implications regardless of the outcome.

“It was either Lionel Messi’s first World Cup win or a back-to-back for France, so it was historic no matter what,” he added.

When asked whether he had watched the final again since the defeat, Mbappé gave a candid response.

“Have I watched the match again since? Never! I think if I do, it might awaken some demons.”

The final remains one of the defining moments of Mbappé's career. His hat-trick made him only the second player in history to score three goals in a World Cup final, yet the achievement was overshadowed by France's defeat in the penalty shootout.

Since then, Mbappé has continued to establish himself among football's elite, earning a high-profile move to Real Madrid and remaining one of the leading figures in world football.

Opinion: Mbappé's Honesty Reveals the Human Side of Greatness

Athletes at the highest level are often viewed as invincible, but Mbappé's comments offer a reminder that even football's biggest stars carry emotional scars from painful defeats.

For most players, scoring a hat-trick in a World Cup final would be the crowning achievement of a career. For Mbappé, however, the memory is inseparable from the disappointment of losing the one prize that mattered most that night.

His admission that he has never rewatched the match is understandable. Elite competitors are driven by victory, and some defeats linger longer than others. The 2022 final was not just another loss—it was a chance to become a back-to-back world champion and cement France's place in football history.

What makes Mbappé's reaction particularly relatable is its honesty. Rather than pretending the defeat no longer affects him, he openly acknowledges the emotional weight it still carries.

At the same time, such experiences often shape great athletes. Many legendary careers have been defined not only by triumphs but by how players responded to heartbreak. The pain of defeat can become fuel for future success.

For Mbappé, the 2022 World Cup final may remain a difficult memory, but it also showcased his extraordinary talent on football's biggest stage. Few players have delivered a performance of that magnitude in a World Cup final.

Whether he chooses to watch the match again or not, the football world will remember it as a game that highlighted both the brilliance of Lionel Messi and the remarkable resilience of Kylian Mbappé. In many ways, it symbolized the passing of one generation's torch to the next, even if the result was not the one the French star wanted.