Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappé was unstoppable as France beat Kazakhstan 8-0 to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring no fewer than four goals - a first for a Frenchman since all the way back in 1958!
Top of qualifying Group G heading into the penultimate round, France were expected to clinch qualification as they faced off against Kazakhstan at the Parc des Princes, but few would have predicted that Les Bleus would mark the six-year anniversary of the Paris terror attacks with an eight-goal masterclass.
And it was Mbappé, playing on his home ground, who blew the game wide open, bagging a first-half hat-trick - including a header! - to secure the match ball (6', 12', 32').
"We are happy. We wanted to qualify in style, we had an idea that we would qualify but we wanted to give our fans a great show," said the 22-year-old. "We couldn't have done better! We respected the game, we respected the opponent and it was a perfect evening."
'A dream come true'
It wasn't until a few minutes from the end that Mbappé rounded out the scoring for France - and levelled the legendary Just Fontaine's 63-year-old record - with his fourth of the match as he ran onto Moussa Diaby's deft pass and rifled home (87'). Les Bleus now have a four-point lead over second-placed Finland and are thus assured of top spot in the group and the place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar that goes with it.
"My quadruple? There is pride above all in playing for your country, and to play in another World Cup is a dream come true," said the uber-talented striker who already has a World Cup to his name. "I always said I wanted to make history for my country. I'm trying to do it little by little, and the World Cup in Qatar will be part of it."
Les Bleus have one more qualifier to play - in Finland on Tuesday - before Mbappé returns to club football and Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 Uber Eats Round 14 clash at home to Nantes on Saturday.
