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Jezreel Pannikot reveals life lessons the stars of the 2018 World Cup taught us.
The biggest spectacle of 'the beautiful game' came to a dramatic end at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on Sunday night.
I think we can all agree that football is far more than a sport; it is a way of life.
It is a game that makes young men turn into heroes, and heroes into idols.
Presenting valuable lessons we learnt from the Heroes of the 2018 World Cup:
1. Age is just a number
Kylian Mbappe has set a precedent for young players.
On the Sunday that France lifted the World Cup, Mbappe became the second teenager in history to score in a final.
He is also the first teenager in 60 years to score a World Cup brace.
The French teenager, whose piercing runs have amazed all, now finds himself sharing this record with the incomparable Pele.
The 19 year old -- he will turn 20 on December 20 -- was a star even before the World Cup began. Rivals were cautioned about him following his exploits at Paris Saint-Germain FC, a team with Brazilian diva Neymar and Uruguyan star Edinson Cavani in its ranks.
He was the one who sent home the mighty Argentines with his lightning speed, and now he returns home with the FIFA Young Player Award, and of course, the World Cup.
Pssst...did you go aww when you saw Mbappe high-five a streaker from the Russian punk band Pussy Riot during the final?
2. A cool head is the secret to winning
Dubbed by many as the third best player in the world before the Cup began (Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi being the first two), Antoine Griezmann scored four goals for the Gauls.
It was his coolness under pressure that was most intimidating.
The French team turned to him when it came to high-pressure penalties and free kicks. Not once did he disappoint them by cracking under pressure.
If there's ever a lesson to learn from him, we think it should be 'stay calm and finish the job like Antoine'.
3. Not every hero wears a cape
The champions have been crowned and the world will remember Greizmann, Mbappe and Pogba.
We hope N'Golo Kante will find a page in history too, for his calm and collected efforts as the man behind the superstars.
He is the unsung hero of this World Cup.
Who can ignore the fact that on almost 100 occasions in this tournament, it was Kante who recovered the ball from the opposition in the mid-field, and gave his French superstar colleagues the opportunity to shine!
He is a true team player, who did his duties with no greed for fame or recognition.
4. There's no substitute for hard work
Meet the player of the tournament, captain of the runners-up and winner of the Golden Ball: Luka Modric.
What a year the 32 year old has had as the backbone of the European club champions Real Madrid and the captain of the Croatian football team!
Modric was on the pitch for almost 700 grueling minutes this tournament, more than any other player.
His sheer hard work and passion, along with his life story will inspire you -- displaced by the outbreak of the Croatian war of independence, his family lived in refugee hotels.
5. Never say never
Meet the equaliser of the semi-final and final.
Ivan Perisic turned things around for Croatia in the knock-out phase.
His never-say-die attitude and his team's will to fight to death earned the Croats the world's respect.
6. Believe in yourself, and you'll be unstoppable
'We were broke. Not just poor, but broke,' Romelu Lukaku, one of the most feared strikers of the tournament, said in an interview.
The Belgian striker is the embodiment of sheer determination and focus -- from the tender age of 6 he knew he needed to focus on football (because that's all he knew) to get his family out of poverty.
That boy is now a 25 year old who just ended his World Cup campaign with four goals in his kitty.
7. Maturity doesn't necessarily come with age
Harry Kane, 24, is the youngest player to captain an English team at the World Cup.
He led a country desperate to get its hands on the World Cup one more time.
After its group stage exit, back in 2014, England's hopes and expectations this year were squarely on Captain Kane's young shoulders.
He led from the front, and brought along a hurri'kane' of goals, which landed him the Golden Boot, to go with his golden touch.
Unfortunately, he couldn't take his team to the final, but England fought valiantly under his leadership.
From not even making an appearance in the English Premier League in 2014, to handling the pressures of captaining one of the most football crazy nations on earth, 'arry is a role model for young leaders.
8. No one can intimidate you without your consent
Not many would have given the hosts a chance at the start of this World Cup.
Russia stunned the Saudis in the first game and proved they were no fluke as they reached the quarter finals; delivering knockout blows to the mighty Spaniards along the way.
Denis Cheryshev with his memorable four goals will certainly be the toast of Russia.
He showed the world that if you trust in your skill and ability you needn't be intimidated by the Goliaths.
9. Don't limit yourself
The first Colombian to play an official game for Spanish giants FC Barcelona, 23-year-old Colombian defender Yerry Mina provided aerial strength not only at the back, but also in the opponent's box.
He started off as a goalkeeper, played as a defensive midfielder, and later found his true calling as a defender.
Scoring as many goals this World Cup as Eden Hazard, Edinson Cavani and Diego Costa, it clearly shows that he is an asset anywhere on the field.
10. Teamwork matters, not just talent
While the world argued about who is the better of the two, neither Lionel Messi nor Christiano Ronaldo could get their teams past the round of 16.
The only team Ronaldo's Portugal could beat was Morocco.
Messi's Argentina had it worse.
It succumbed to Croatia and barely scrapped through against the Nigerians.
