Kylian Mbappe demonstrated his sportsmanship by leaving a love-heart emoji on Marcus Rashford's Instagram post following France's 2-1 victory over England in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. Now, the two football stars are set to meet again in the third-place playoff on Saturday night.
World Cup 2026 Third-Place Showdown
England fell to a dramatic 2-1 defeat against Argentina in the semi-finals, while Mbappe's France were beaten 2-0 by Spain, setting up a battle for third place between the two European heavyweights. The match will take place on Saturday evening.
When they met in the World Cup quarter-finals four years ago, France emerged 2-1 winners. After that match, Rashford posted on Instagram: "The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions, each and every one of our team gave everything we had to be ready for what was thrown at us, we got close, but not close enough. I'll make a promise that we will come again! Thank you for the unconditional support we have received throughout the tournament, it hasn't gone unnoticed."
Mbappe's Heartfelt Response
Mbappe responded with a love-heart emoji, showcasing his respect for Rashford. The Manchester United forward then replied: "Good luck with the rest of the tournament brother! Go smash it king."
The French striker reached the final but was defeated on penalties by Lionel Messi's Argentina. England were also beaten by the South Americans on Wednesday, ending their hopes of silverware.
Recent Encounters in La Liga
Mbappe and Rashford faced off in La Liga last season during the United forward's year-long loan at Barcelona. They secured one win each in their two meetings. Real Madrid won 2-1 in the league in October 2025, while Barcelona lifted the Supercopa trophy with a 3-2 win over their biggest rivals.
Rashford got the last laugh in terms of silverware as Barcelona also won the La Liga title with an eight-point lead over Madrid. The pair will now meet to battle for third place in the World Cup on Saturday evening.
