Kylian Mbappe and the France football squad were greeted by thousands of fans after arriving back in Paris on Monday from the World Cup in Qatar.
France were beaten in a penalty shoot-out by Argentina on Sunday night in one of the all-time great World Cup finals and the team looked in a sombre mood after landing at Charles de Gaulle Airport from Doha.
Despite it being a drab and chilly December evening, though, several thousand had congregated at Paris' Place de la Concorde.
Fans let off fireworks, waved French tricolore flags and chanted "Allez Les Bleus" and the French national anthem as the team appeared on the balcony of the Hotel de Crillon.
Manager Didier Deschamps and team captain Hugo Lloris waved to the crowds from the balcony. They were later joined by the rest of the squad and Mbappe, who drew a huge roar from the crowd.
"Frankly, it's magnificent, it warms the heart, it's a great pleasure to see that we were able to make so many French people proud and happy," forward Marcus Thuram told TF1 TV.
"We wanted to see them [the fans] on our return from Doha because I think it's the least we can do to come and see them and thank them for their support," he added.
World Cup final gallery
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Lionel Messi holds up the trophy after Argentina defeated France on penalties in the World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, on Sunday, December 18, 2022. AP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after beating France. AP -
France's Kylian Mbappe walks past the trophy at the end of the match. AP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi holds up the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament. AP -
Argentina celebrate victory at Lusail Stadium. Getty -
Lionel Messi of Argentina kisses the trophy after beating France 4-2 on penalties. EPA -
Argentina celebrate victory. AP -
Argentina captain Lionel Messi celebrates with World Cup trophy. PA -
Kylian Mbappe of France with his Golden Boot award for finishing as the tournament's top scorer. EPA -
Argentina players celebrate after winning the World Cup final penalty shoot-out against France. Getty -
Argentina players celebrate victory. Getty -
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi celebrate after winning the World Cup. Reuters -
Argentina's Leandro Paredes celebrates scoring the winning penalty against France. Getty -
Argentina's Leandro Paredes celebrates scoring during the penalty shoot-out against France. Reuters -
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saves from Kingsley Coman of France in the penalty shoot-out. Getty -
Lionel Messi scores for Argentina in the penalty shoot-out. Getty -
Emiliano Martinez of Argentina celebrates after saving Kingsley Coman's penalty. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe completes his hat-trick from the spot to make it 3-3. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his, and France's, third goal. Getty -
Lionel Messi scores Argentina's third goal. Getty -
Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina's third goal. Getty -
Lionel Messi scores Argentina's third goal. Reuters -
Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina's third goal. PA -
Argentina's Lionel Messi goes for a high challenge on Eduardo Camavinga of France. Getty -
Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after scoring Argentina's third. AFP -
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is beaten by the penalty of France's Kylian Mbappe. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring France's second goal. PA -
Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi fouls Randal Kolo Muani of France giving away a penalty. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe volleys home France's second goal. Getty -
Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria skips past the challenge of France's Antoine Griezmann. PA -
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the first France goal. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe scores France's first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters -
Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring Argentina's second goal. Reuters -
Argentina's Lionel Messi sends France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris the wrong way from the spot. Getty -
France's Kylian Mbappe with Lionel Messi of Argentina. Getty -
Angel Di Maria scores for Argentina in the first-half. Getty -
France's Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Adrien Rabiot after Argentina made it 2-0. PA -
Argentina's Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring with France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on his knees. Reuters -
Argentina's Nicolas Tagliafico and Randal Kolo Muani fight for the ball. AP -
Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring for Argentina. Getty -
Lionel Messi is mobbed by Argentina teammates after scoring. Getty -
France's Jules Kounde heads the ball. AP -
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring for Argentina. Getty -
Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria earns a penalty after going down under the challenge of France's Ousmane Dembele. Getty -
France's Olivier Giroud shakes hands with manager Didier Deschamps after being substituted in the first half. PA -
Lionel Messi scores from the spot for Argentina. PA -
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a first-half penalty for Argentina. Getty -
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saves from Argentina's Julian Alvarez. AP -
France manager Didier Deschamps, left, with his Argentina counterpart Lionel Scaloni before the game. AP -
Argentina players before the match. AP -
France players before the match. Getty
Goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris told TF1 that it was a chance to "greet them (the fans), to thank them for their support and, after yesterday's pain, to seek their consolation."
France lost on penalties on Sunday after the match ended 3-3 following extra time, but French commentators still heaped praise on the defeated side, while highlighting the crucial role of Argentinian captain Lionel Messi.
"Invited to the coronation of Lionel Messi, Les Bleus were heroic," said L'Equipe sports newspaper.
The match was dominated by Argentina for the first 80 minutes before a quickfire double by Mbappe ignited France. Mbappe went on to score a third goal, becoming only the second player in history to grab a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
You can see a gallery of the scenes in Paris in the gallery above. To view the next image, just swipe.
