Kylian Mbappe: The 19-year-old with the world at his feet
The France forward has made a major impact at the World Cup finals.
Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe produced a superb individual display as France booked their place in Sunday’s World Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Belgium.
Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at the 19-year-old Paris St Germain star with the world at his feet.
Pace
Mbappe’s ability to stretch a defence with his speed across the turf is a major weapon for France, particularly on the counter-attack, and he is almost as quick with the ball as he is without it, allowing him to run directly at defenders as well as ghost in behind them.
Goals
Passes
Mbappe’s awareness of what is going on around him is key to his knack of opening up a defence and he demonstrated that ability on several occasions during the semi-final – to cushion a first-time pass into the path of Olivier Giroud from Antoine Griezmann’s pass, play full-back Benjamin Pavard into a shooting position and later to put in Giroud once again with an outrageous piece of skill.
Tricks
Speed of thought and feet are one thing, but the audacity to attempt something different is priceless and the teenager did just that to leave vastly experienced Belgium defender Vincent Kompany for dead with his ‘shuffle’ move. He accepted Blaise Matuidi’s lay-off with his back to goal, rolled the ball with the sole of his right foot on to his left and then repeated the feat to pick out Giroud’s run towards goal.
