Kylian Mbappé

The image is seared into World Cup folklore: Kylian Mbappé, hat-trick hero, standing alone in the center circle at Lusail Stadium after the most dramatic final in history, his face a portrait of devastation despite scoring three goals that should have won any other match. That December night in Qatar was the moment the throne was offered — and the penalty shootout was the moment it was snatched away.

Four years later, Mbappé arrives in North America as arguably the most complete forward on the planet. The move to Real Madrid in 2024 added the final line to a CV that was already absurd — World Cup winner at 19 in Russia, Champions League contender every season, and a goalscoring record that makes defenders lose sleep. At 27, this is his prime World Cup, the tournament where his physical gifts — electric pace, devastating finishing, ice-cold composure — should be at their absolute peak.

France are perennial contenders, and Group I pairs them with Senegal, Norway, and a playoff qualifier. The marquee clash is obvious: Mbappé vs Haaland when France face Norway in Boston. It's the kind of generational matchup that defines World Cups. Didier Deschamps (or his successor) will build the team around Mbappé's penetrating runs, and with Griezmann, Tchouaméni, and a stacked squad behind him, France will fancy their chances of going back-to-back. For Mbappé, though, it's personal — the 2022 final owes him a debt, and he intends to collect.