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
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.