France hero recalls moment scoring in World Cup final "changed" his life

Just 62 men have scored in a World Cup final.

Those to have achieved the career-defining feat include Pele, Rudi Voller, Zinedine Zidane, Paul Pogba, Paolo Rossi, Geoff Hurst, Kylian Mbappe, Mario Kempes, Andres Iniesta, Carlos Alberto, Gerd Muller and Ronaldo. It's an exclusive club, leaving most of us wondering what it feels like to find the back of the net on international football's biggest stage.

Thankfully, Emmanuel Petit is on hand to reveal all. The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder scored France's third goal in their 3-0 victory against Brazil in 1998. It was a goal - and victory - that had a profound impact on his life.

"I know I felt privileged... it changed my life forever," Petit tells Mirror Football, courtesy of LiveScore. "[It changed] my team-mates' lives as well. But because I scored during that final - and because we played at home in France in front of our fans and our family and friends - [it meant more].

"It happens once in your lifetime, things like this. You catch it [the moment] or not, and I did catch it with my team-mates.

"Every single day people talk to me about that, every single day. If, for example, I leave my flat and go to the streets, after 50 metres someone is going to stop me. I can see the stars in their eyes all the time, the emotion.

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"Yes, scoring in a World Cup final - I feel very privileged because it changed my time and my life forever [Petit lifts up a replica of the World Cup trophy]."

Petit was part of the first France side to win the World Cup, with the Class of 2018 repeating the feat in Russia. He believes that victory has written his name in France's long history.

"You have to understand something very important - winning trophies with your club is something very important," Petit adds. "Winning 10 Champions Leagues in-a-row would be a big achievement for you with your club, but you will talk only to your own fans and to the football fans.

"If you play for your country, it's beyond football - you are an ambassador of your country. And if you win - or have the chance to win - a big trophy with your country, then all of a sudden, you are not [just] part of the football history with your country or even the world.

"You are part of your entire history of your country. You are part of the DNA of your country. It's beyond football. We are not talking about football anymore when you win things with your national team because you're talking to every single heart - even those who are not interested in football."

Emmanuel Petit is supporting LiveScore's Fear of Missing Scores campaign. If you're unable to watch the World Cup live, download the LiveScore app for real-time updates. You can download the app here: livescore.com/en/mobile

"I've had the privilege of playing in some huge games during my career and I even achieved every footballer's dream of scoring for my country during a World Cup final," says Petit. "I've been part of moments in football history that fans wish they could have experienced or maybe relive again, which is why I'm proud to be part of LiveScore's FOMS campaign."

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