Kylian Mbappé, the captain of the French national football team, is facing backlash in his home country for choosing to skip Les Bleus’ upcoming Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium while being available to play for his club, Real Madrid. This decision has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike, sparking a heated debate about his commitment to the national team.
The controversy began when Mbappé sustained a muscle injury last month, which led to his absence from several matches. However, he made a swift return to the pitch last Wednesday during a Champions League fixture. Despite this recovery, France coach Didier Deschamps opted to exclude the 25-year-old forward from the squad he announced on Thursday, citing concerns over Mbappé’s lack of preparation due to having played too few matches recently.
On Saturday, Mbappé took to the field for Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Villarreal, where he played a crucial role in the team’s victory. This further fueled the criticism as many questioned why he could participate at the club level but was unavailable for national duty.
Former France international Maxime Bossis expressed his disapproval in an interview with the French sports daily L’Equipe. “Either you’re injured, and you don’t play with your club, and you’re not called up to the national team,” he stated. “But when you come off the bench in the Champions League and you start a league game, it makes things fuzzy. He’s a special player. We’ve known that with Michel Platini, when we still wanted him with us when he was injured.”
Adding to the complexity of the situation is Mbappé’s role as the national team captain. He was appointed captain ahead of Antoine Griezmann, who recently announced his retirement from international football. Griezmann, a stalwart of the team, played a record 84 consecutive matches for France from 2017 to 2024, and his commitment to the national squad was never in question.
Fabien Bonnet, a spokesperson for Irresistible Francais, the main supporters’ group for the French national team, criticized Mbappé’s actions. “As a captain, he must be an example for the fans, and he has not been,” Bonnet told L’Equipe. “What emerges is that the real captain, Antoine Griezmann, is gone.”
France currently sits second in Group A of the Nations League and will face Israel in Budapest on Thursday before traveling to Belgium for another crucial match next Monday. As the team prepares for these significant fixtures, the debate over Mbappé’s commitment to Les Bleus continues to dominate discussions, highlighting the fine line athletes must navigate between club and national responsibilities.
With heightened scrutiny on his leadership and commitment, the young captain faces a pivotal moment in his career, as he must now prove his dedication to the national team in the wake of these criticisms. The upcoming matches will not only be crucial for France’s standing in the tournament but also for Mbappé to restore faith among fans and analysts regarding his role as a leader within the squad.
