In the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, France's national team coach, Didier Deschamps, has strongly defended his captain, Kylian Mbappé, against persistent criticism surrounding the Real Madrid forward's playing style and perceived selfishness. Speaking at the Sports Journalism Festival in Laval, Deschamps addressed the "elephant in the room," directly tackling the scrutiny Mbappé faces from both Spanish and French media.
Mbappé, who also captains the French national team, has often been labeled as individualistic, with critics pointing to his distance-covered metrics compared to his teammates as evidence of a lack of effort, especially when the team is out of possession. Deschamps, however, has dismissed these concerns, arguing that judging Mbappé purely on physical data is a miscalculation of his unique and decisive qualities.
"We have the image of someone who is very selfish and individualistic," Deschamps began, before stating, "Of course, he's a striker; it would be strange if he didn't have a certain amount of selfishness". He asserted that this "selfishness" is not only normal but necessary for a world-class striker whose primary responsibility is to decide games. Deschamps also highlighted that Mbappé's influence extends beyond his on-field performance: "I can assure you that, in terms of how things work and everything else, he is someone who knows that, as captain, his word carries weight with the whole team".
Deschamps further elaborated on Mbappé's role within the French setup, pushing back against those who judge the forward purely on physical data. "If you want to judge Kylian by saying he has to run at least 11 kilometers per game, don't bother, he won't do it," Deschamps stated. He emphasized that Mbappé possesses "many other important and decisive qualities" that make him an invaluable asset to the team. Deschamps’ defense underscores a belief that modern football analysis often conflates effort with effectiveness, and that managing a player of Mbappé's caliber requires accepting certain trade-offs to ensure he retains the explosive power needed to decide matches.
Mbappé's career has been marked by exceptional achievements. By the age of 23, he had already scored 12 World Cup goals in 14 appearances. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball, setting a record for the most goals scored in World Cup final matches with a hat-trick. He is also one of only two players to have scored in two consecutive World Cup finals. France qualified for the 2026 World Cup after a dominant performance in the qualifiers.
As France prepares for the 2026 World Cup, Deschamps' unwavering support for Mbappé sends a clear message: the team's success hinges not on conforming to conventional metrics, but on harnessing the unique talents and leadership of their "true captain". With France aiming to "regenerate excellence" and approach the tournament as a "complete tournament machine," Mbappé's role will be crucial in their quest for victory.