According to "Sport", in the FIFA World Cup semi-final between France and Spain, Mbappe once again took center stage. The French forward has scored 8 goals and provided 3 assists in this tournament, but his repeated brilliant performances have rarely led to ideal results.

When a major tournament needs a star to step up, Mbappe almost never fails. The problem is that the French team sometimes lacks enough collective support to translate his performance into a championship or advancement.

A masterpiece at Lusail Stadium, but no trophy

The most typical example is still the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar. The French team was completely outplayed by Argentina, trailing by two goals, and Mbappe delivered a historic performance. He scored two goals in two minutes, forcing the game into extra time, and then completed a historic hat-trick, taking the match to a penalty shootout.

Mbappe's performance at Lusail Stadium is considered one of the best individual performances in FIFA World Cup final history. But in the end, it was Argentina who lifted the trophy, and that night brought no reward for the French.

Repeated occurrences in the Champions League

This feeling has also appeared multiple times in Mbappe's Champions League knockout matches. As early as his time at Monaco, he played a key role in their historic run in 2017, even scoring in the second leg against Juventus. However, the Italian team's solid defense thwarted Monaco's dreams.

At Paris Saint-Germain, similar stories have repeatedly unfolded. In 2019 against Manchester United, Mbappe was in crucial form, scoring at Old Trafford and directly contributing to Paris Saint-Germain's goal in the second leg. Even so, Manchester United staged a historic comeback in Paris, knocking the French team out.

The most representative example occurred in 2022 against Real Madrid. Mbappe scored both of Paris Saint-Germain's goals in the two-legged tie, and was arguably the best player in both matches. He decided the first leg in stoppage time at the Parc des Princes and scored at the Santiago Bernabéu, but Paris Saint-Germain's collective collapse and Karim Benzema's hat-trick overshadowed his outstanding individual performance.

As a Real Madrid player, he has also experienced similar situations. In last season's Champions League quarter-finals, Mbappe scored in both legs against Bayern Munich, leading his team forward, but a terrible mistake by Camavinga ultimately dashed their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. That also left Mbappe with only the top scorer award in a season that should have brought rewards.

Now, Mbappe faces a new test against Spain. Their most recent encounter in a major tournament also left him with no good memories. In the 2024 European Championship semi-final, he assisted Kolo Muani to give France an early lead, but the French team ultimately succumbed to Spain's comeback. Goals from Yamal and Olmo turned the score around, and despite the French team's top star making an early impact, they were still stopped just outside the final.

This Tuesday, the French team will still place most of its hopes on the Real Madrid forward. The question is not whether Mbappe will step up when needed, but whether the French team can provide him with enough support this time to ensure that another decisive performance leads to the outcome he has missed so many times.

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