Kylian Mbappe put on the performance of a lifetime in Sunday’s World Cup final, bagging three goals to singlehandedly push France to penalties before falling short against Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Mbappe bookended a sensational volley in the 82nd minute with two penalties, etching his name into World Cup history in the process.
One goal can be luck, two goals can be skill, but three? Well, that’s legendary.
MORE: World Cup Golden Boot 2022: Kylian Mbappe takes the crown
Here’s how he did it…and the exclusive company he joined with his showcase.
Kylian Mbappe hat trick in World Cup final
Mbappe opened France’s scoring with a coolly slotted penalty in the 81st minute. Mbappe lined up from the spot and proceeded to slip the ball past Emiliano Martinez’s outstretched grasp. Despite getting a fingertip on the ball, Martinez couldn’t fend off the power of Mbappe’s strike.
*US only video
If Mbappe’s first score was lucky, his second was special. Mbappe connected cleanly with a chipped volley, rocketing it into the bottom right corner to level things at two. It was a sumptuous strike, the type Mbappe has become known for over the course of his sparkling career.
*US only video
Mbappe capped off his historic display in style, finding the net once more in the 117th minute from the penalty spot. Facing the biggest kick of his career, Mbappe slammed the ball into the bottom left corner before racing to the corner flag in delirium.
World Cup final hat tricks
Mbappe’s trio of goals cemented his name as one of the greatest talents to ever grace the field. He also added his name to a rather exclusive list, becoming just the second ever player to ever score a World Cup final hat trick.
The man he joined needs no introduction, particularly in England. Geoff Hurst famously slotted three times in the 1966 final, bringing football back “home” for the first — and only — time ever.
Players to score two goals in a World Cup final
Mbappe wasn’t the only player to etch his name in the annals of football history. His club teammate, Lionel Messi, also bagged a brace, becoming the eighth player to score twice in a World Cup final. All eight went on to lift the trophy.
All time World Cup hat tricks
There have been 53 total hat tricks in World Cup history, with 49 players accounting for those feats. Just Fontaine (1958), Gerd Muller (1970) and Gabriel Batistuta (1994 and 1998) have multiple World Cup hat tricks.
The edition that has seen more hat tricks than any other to this point was the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, when eight were struck. That included two in the same match, Austria 7-5 Switzerland, from opposing players Theodor Wagner and Josef Hugi.
Through World Cup history, only one edition of the tournament has failed to see a hat trick netted, the 2006 World Cup which was held in Germany.
The first-ever hat trick at a World Cup was scored by an American, Bert Patenaude, at the Uruguay 1930 tournament.
