PARIS
\nFrance striker Kylian Mbappe has shrugged off Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez\u2019s taunts after the World Cup final, saying he did not \u201cwaste energy on such futile things\u201d as he awaited the return of Paris Saint Germain teammate Lionel Messi.
\nMbappe became the second player to score a World Cup final hat-trick as he dragged his country back into the match with a late second-half double and an extra-time penalty, which was still not enough as Argentina prevailed in a shootout.
\nDuring Argentina\u2019s jubilant homecoming, a group of fans set alight a makeshift coffin lid adorned with a cross and a picture of Mbappe.
\nMartinez clutched a toy baby with Mbappe\u2019s face on it during an open-top bus parade through the capital on Dec 23.
\n\u201cThe celebrations, they\u2019re not my problem. I don\u2019t waste any energy on such futile things,\u201d
\nMbappe told reporters after converting an added time penalty to give PSG a 2-1 win over Strasbourg in his first Ligue 1 game after the World Cup final.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s important for me is to give the best of myself for my club, and we\u2019re looking forward for Leo (Messi) to return to continue scoring and winning matches.\u201d
\nAsked about Argentina\u2019s World Cup-winning captain Messi, who will return to the Paris club after the New Year, Mbappe said he congratulated him following the final.
\n\u201cIt was a life\u2019s goal for him, for me as well, but I failed, so you must always remain a good sportsman,\u201d he said.
\nAston Villa coach Unai Emery said on Friday that he would talk to Martinez about the keeper\u2019s attitude during the World Cup celebrations when he returns to the Midlands club.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PARIS France striker Kylian Mbappe has shrugged off Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez\u2019s taunts after the World Cup final, saying he did not \u201cwaste energy on such futile things\u201d as he awaited the return of Paris Saint Germain teammate Lionel Messi. Mbappe became the second player to score a World Cup final hat-trick as he dragged […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-304537","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n