3. Mbappe continues to rise and shine
Kylian Mbappe tormented the Belgian defence with his jinking runs from out wide, looking like a seasoned professional at just 19 years of age.
The odds for the Golden Ball show a bunch of fresh faces, with Kylian Mbappe now leading the charge. When Portugal and then Argentina exited the tournament it felt like a changing of the guard, and today’s announcement that Cristiano Ronaldo has left Real Madrid only added to the feeling that there is a black hole where superstars used to shine.
Lightning quick speed, superb close control and a confidence rarely seen in someone so young. If Argentina was his coming out party, the semi-final was the boy transforming into a man.
When other players around him would pick the wrong pass, or hold on to the ball too long, the teenager would charge up the field, keep his head and choose the right option more often than not.
He finished the game without a shot on goal, but he completed 22 of his 28 pass attempts, created six chances and was successful with seven out of his 15 take-ons.