Prior to the start of the campaign for France, Kylian Mbappe FIFA World Cup 2026 has already caught the attention of the media and football analysts due to the defender’s Ousmane Dembele’s public attack of the captain in the face of criticism from various quarters. France are one of the favourites to enter the tournament having won the 2018 FIFA World Cup and consistently been in the top tier of football around the world.
The 2026 edition is being hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico and the buzz surrounding France and Mbappe is very high. In an interview with a Spanish newspaper, Dembele emphasized that the backlash against Mbappe is now getting to an extreme level. He emphasized that it’s been too much public attention, and sometimes un-related to on-field performance.
He said that “even minor actions off the pitch” are being used to pass judgment on the French captain. He said Mbappe is not just an extraordinary player but a respectable human being as well. Dembele also challenged the constant comparisons and criticisms as this is not fair, particularly when leading a national team at the highest level of international competition.
Today, the media is always giving elite players lots of attention, and Mbappe is one of the most closely-watched superstars in the world of football. Yet, his abilities with the club and the country remain a topic of conversation in the title debate, particularly ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. France will look to Mbappe to lead them, attack with them and score goals for them as the team tries to claim a second world title.
