Kylian Mbappe missed out on a perfect score in L’Equipe’s player ratings despite netting a hat-trick in France’s 14-0 win against Gibraltar.
Mbappe helped Didier Deschamps’ side to their biggest-ever win as they thrashed their opponents in a Euro 2024 qualifier in Nice.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward scored France’s fourth goal of the night from the penalty spot before adding two more in the closing stages, including an outrageous strike from all of 40 yards to complete his treble.
The 24-year-old moved on to 300 career goals courtesy of this latest hat-trick, meaning he has done so at an earlier stage of his career than both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
However, L’Equipe’s ratings are notoriously harsh and they were only willing to give him a nine on a record-breaking night for the national team.
Kylian Mbappe was not awarded a rating of 10 by L’Equipe despite scoring a hat-trick against Gibraltar
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The PSG forward netted France’s fourth goal of the night from the penalty spot in what was a record win
He added two more goals in the second half to complete his hat-trick and move on to 300 career strikes
The publication praised Mbappe for his hat-trick, and for playing three decisive passes, but it was not enough to earn him a perfect score.
L’Equipe have previously come down hard on the French superstar, awarding him a score of two for his performance in PSG’s humbling 4-1 defeat to Newcastle in the Champions League earlier this season.
France had other reasons to celebrate against Gibraltar even though their place at Euro 2024 was already secured.
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PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery became the youngest-ever player to start a game for France at the age of 17
Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score twice and extend his lead as France’s record goalscorer
The victory ensured that the beaten World Cup finalists will be one of five top seeds for the group stage draw for the tournament in Germany.
Warren Zaire-Emery, Mbappe’s 17-year-old PSG team-mate, became the youngest-ever player to start for France against Gibraltar, and the highly-rated midfielder made it an evening to remember when he scored his side’s third goal of the night.
There was also a milestone for one of the more established members of Deschamps’ squad, as Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score two late goals and extend his lead as France’s record goalscorer.
Mbappe’s hat-trick meant he overtook Antoine Griezmann to claim third place on that list, and he will be looking to add more goals to his tally when France wrap up their qualifying group against Greece on Tuesday.
