France and Stuttgart's World Cup hero Benjamin Pavard "in tears" at end of final
VfB Stuttgart defender Benjamin Pavard revealed he spent the last few minutes of France's FIFA World Cup final win in tears as he completed an amazing rise to the top of world football.
After just 21 Ligue 1 appearances for local side Lille and having watched France finish runners-up at UEFA EURO 2016 on TV, Pavard moved to Stuttgart in summer 2016 a virtual unknown with even the then-Bundesliga 2 outfit's fans asking, 'Benjamin who?'.
'Out of nowhere'
Already a household name around Germany after helping Stuttgart to promotion and then enjoying a fantastic maiden top-flight season, Pavard is now also known globally having played a starring role in his country's second world title.
A cult figure among Les Bleus' fans whose song for their new hero admits "I think you don't know him, he's come from out of nowhere," Pavard admitted even he was overwhelmed by the enormity of his achievement in Russia as the final seconds ticked down in the 4-2 win over Croatia.
Below: Pavard's Stuttgart teammates sing the 'Benjamin Pavard' song
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"Two years ago I was in the fan zone in Lille with my friends. A year ago, I was playing in the German second division," the 22-year-old defender told French TV.
"I have come out of nowhere, as the song about me says. I still haven't fully realised what we have done. It's great. During the game, when there were two or three minutes left, I shed a few tears."