I’m here for trophy not goal plaudits
KYLIAN MBAPPE fired France into the quarter-finals with two stunning goals – and then set his sights on retaining the World Cup.
Mbappe’s magnificent double put him ahead in the race for the Golden Boot with five goals in Qatar.
But he insists team success is more important to him than personal glory.
Mbappe said: “The only objective for me is to win the World Cup.
“I came here to win the World Cup, not the Golden Boot. I’m here to win with the team. If I win the Golden Boot, then I’d obviously be happy but the team is the most important thing.
“We’re delighted to reach the quarter-finals. We scored the goals at important moments and we ended up winning, so we’re delighted with that.”
Olivier Giroud became France’s all-time leading scorer, eclipsing Thierry Henry with his 52nd goal a minute before half-time.
Mbappe then produced two fantastic strikes to put the game beyond Poland, whose skipper Robert Lewandowski scored a late consolation penalty.
The PSG star celebrated his second goal by waving his arms for the crowd to cheer louder – and he hoisted himself up onto the crossbar after the final whistle in front of France’s fans.
Afterwards, man-of-thematch Mbappe explained why he had refused to undertake postmatch media duties earlier in the tournament, resulting in a FIFA fine for the French FA.
He said: “I just needed to focus on the tournament and on football. When I want to concentrate, that is how I do it.
“I heard the FFF is going to get fined, I will pay it as I don’t think the FFF should pay on my behalf.
“This is the competition of dreams and I’m delighted to be here and I wanted to be ready. I’ve been preparing all season, physically and mentally but we are still a long way from the ultimate objective.”
Boss Didier Deschamps said: “Kylian didn’t have his best match but he can change a match in a moment.
“He plays with such joy and we all want to share those smiles with him.”
There was even praise from Poland’s manager. Czeslaw Michniewicz said: “He hurt us today but I am cheering for him because he is a real star.
“I’m talking about Messi, Ronaldo, Lewandowski. If someone is going to take over, Mbappe will be the player to be the best one for many years.”