Kylian Mbappe: Expert's analysis on France star's mental strength vs Argentina | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappe is a born leader.

When the France star took to the pitch for his second World Cup final earlier this month, he was only 23 years old, but still cut the figure of a senior member within Didier Deschamps’ squad.

Such is Mbappe‘s remarkable talent that he does have an inordinately high total number of career appearances for someone his age, but it still takes real maturity and intelligence to have an impact on your team like he does.

How did Mbappe play in the World Cup final?

The simple fact of the matter is that France would have laboured to a pretty tepid defeat at the Lusail Iconic Stadium if it wasn’t for the game-changing impact of the Paris Saint-Germain star.

You only have to look at his extraordinary volley to take Les Bleus to extra-time to see that his generational talent, ability and technique is enough to flip a massive game completely on its head.

However, while it might have been Mbappe’s volley that was the most technically difficult of his three goals, in many ways it was actually his penalties that were the most impressive.

The ultimate Kylian Mbappe quiz: Can you answer 20 questions about the French speedster?

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Where was Mbappe born?

Marseille Monaco Paris Lille

The pressure on Mbappe’s shoulders to take spot-kicks in the 81st and 118th minutes of the biggest game in men’s football where misses would essentially put the trophy in Argentina‘s hands is simply beyond the understanding of any mere mortal.

Throw in the fact that Mbappe also stepped up to take France’s first penalty in the ensuing shootout, scoring yet again, and his composure under pressure is simply off the charts.

But how does he do it? Like, seriously, how does one step up three times on the biggest stage of all in the most nerve-shredding circumstances of all and execute every single time?

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How did Mbappe stay calm under pressure?

Well, courtesy of Geir Jordet, an expect in football psychology and a professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, we can answer that very question.

That’s because Jordet has produced yet another one of his fascinating Twitter threads breaking down how exactly Mbappe showed composure beyond his years to score all three penalties.

From dealing with the infamous dark arts of Emiliano Martinez to the brilliant teamwork of his France comrades, Mbappe really did have plenty of tricks up his sleeve to keep calm and composed.

So, who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two as you peruse Jordet’s analysis and find out how Mbappe could thrive and survive when so many players would have stumbled and crumbled.

He’s destined for greatness, isn’t he?

Look, there’s no denying that Mbappe is a physical specimen with electric pace, underrated strength and nimble movement, but the muscle we need to talk about is the one behind his eyes that truly drives his game: the brain.

Now 24, it’s remarkable just how emotionally intelligent and thoroughly analytical Mbappe has already become, fine-tuning aspects of his game and mentality to perform under pressure.

You only have to look at Harry Kane missing his second penalty in England‘s quarter-final defeat against Mbappe and co to see just mentally complex taking multiple high-pressure spot-kicks can be, but alas, France’s superstar handled it all with aplomb.

And it’s cocktail of physical excellence and mental maturity that will surely send Mbappe to the Ballon d’Or long tipped for him very, very soon.