Kylian Mbappe will begin France’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign under intense scrutiny when Les Bleus face Senegal on Tuesday, with questions surrounding his form, leadership and influence following a difficult season at club level.
The France captain endured a frustrating end to the campaign with Real Madrid, finishing as La Liga’s top scorer but failing to lift a single trophy as the Spanish giants fell short in both the league title race and the UEFA Champions League.
Mbappe also struggled to make an impact during France’s World Cup warm-up matches, failing to score against Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland, performances that only fueled criticism ahead of the tournament.
Since inheriting the captain’s armband from Hugo Lloris in 2023, the 26-year-old has faced growing debate over his leadership credentials. Former France defender and 1998 World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf has been among those questioning whether Mbappe is the right figure to lead the national team into a new era.
Despite the external criticism, Mbappe continues to receive unwavering support from inside the French squad.
Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele strongly defended his longtime teammate, arguing that public criticism has become excessive and often unfair.
“The criticism towards him is very, very unfair,” Dembele told Marca.
“Some people overdo the criticism because he’s Kylian Mbappe. They shouldn’t keep going after him. Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not, it’s too much. He’s still a human being.”
Dembele also praised Mbappe’s influence within the national team, insisting the forward remains an important leader in the dressing room.
“With the France team, he’s very good with us, he’s a leader,” Dembele said.
Defender Lucas Hernandez echoed those sentiments, saying Mbappe has remained fully focused despite the attention surrounding every aspect of his career.
“When you’re Kylian Mbappe, everyone looks at everything you do, on the pitch and off the pitch,” Hernandez said.
“He’s 100% motivated for the World Cup. All the criticism there has been this season, he’s going to silence it.”
France head into the tournament as one of the leading contenders to lift the trophy, while head coach Didier Deschamps is overseeing what is expected to be his final major tournament before stepping down after the World Cup.
The opening match against Senegal offers Mbappe an immediate opportunity to answer his critics with the type of performances that have made him one of international football’s most prolific tournament players.
Few players possess a stronger World Cup pedigree than the Real Madrid forward. Mbappe has scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup appearances, leaving him four goals shy of Miroslav Klose’s all-time tournament record of 16.
Another goal during the tournament would also see Mbappe draw level with retired striker Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading men’s international scorer with 57 goals.
Following the Senegal opener, France will continue their Group I campaign against Iraq and Norway, with Mbappe expected to spearhead Les Bleus’ pursuit of a second World Cup title in three tournaments.
