Thousands welcome home Kylian Mbappe and the France World Cup squad - in pictures

Supporters gather in central Paris to greet football team after World Cup final defeat against Argentina

France forward Kylian Mbappe and manager Didier Deschamps greet supporters at the Hotel de Crillon in central Paris, on December 19, 2022, a day after their World Cup final defeat against Argentina in Qatar. AP

Manager Didier Deschamps and French team arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport back from Doha after their World Cup final defeat against Argentina. EPA

Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappe and Didier Deschamps arrive back in Paris. AFP

France forward Olivier Giroud shakes hands with an airport employee. AFP

Hugo Lloris and Didier Deschamps arrive back in France from the World Cup in Qatar. AFP

France's Olivier Giroud arrives back in Paris. AP

Fans wait at the Place de la Concorde in Paris for the arrival of the French football team. AFP

Antoine Griezmann arrives back at Paris Roissy Airport from the World Cup in Qatar. EPA

France players Olivier Giroud, left, and Antoine Griezmann, centre, greet supporters in Paris. AFP

France attacker Kylian Mbappe arrives back in Paris. EPA

Left to right: France's Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Kylian Mbappe and Didier Deschamps greet supporters. AFP

Fans greet the arrival of the French football team in Paris. AFP

Fans await the arrival of the French football team at the Crillon Hotel on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. EPA

Fans greet the French football team at the Crillon Hotel on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. EPA

France football team supporters gather on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. EPA

Supporters gather on the Place de la Concorde in Paris for the arrival of the France football team. EPA

France forward Kylian Mbappe with manager Didier Deschamps. AFP

Left to right: Aurelien Tchouameni, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe and Didier Deschamps. AFP

France manager Didier Deschamps and Kylian Mbappe. Reuters

France forward Kylian Mbappe with manager Didier Deschamps. AFP

France managerDidier Deschamps and Kylian Mbappe. Reuters

Supporters gather on the Place de la Concorde in Paris to greet the France football team. Reuters

The France World Cup squad greet fans in Paris a day after their World Cup final defeat against Argentina. AFP

France's Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Ibrahima Konate and Eduardo Camavinga greet fans. Reuters

France manager Didier Deschamps and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris greet fans in Paris. Reuters

The France World Cup squad greet fans in Paris a day after their World Cup final defeat against Argentina. AFP

France attacker Kylian Mbappe. Reuters

Fans in Paris await the arrival of the French World Cup squad. EPA

France's Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni greet fans in Paris. Reuters

France's Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Aurelien Tchouameni greet fans in Paris. Reuters

The France World Cup squad greet fans in Paris a day after their World Cup final defeat against Argentina. AP

France's Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann greet supporters in central Paris. AFP

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

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.