Star player Kylian Mbappe from Real Madrid is enjoying a remarkable 2026 World Cup. On Saturday, he scored the decisive goal that led France to a narrow victory over Paraguay, securing a spot in the quarter-finals. Currently, he leads the tournament with seven goals (tied with Lionel Messi), but has contributed more assists. If he maintains this lead, he will be the first player ever to win the Golden Boot in consecutive tournaments.
Off the pitch, however, there has been considerable chatter regarding his behavior behind the scenes. Reports suggest that his actions have upset some of his teammates in the national team, mirroring earlier claims made by those at Real Madrid. However, these rumors have been publicly refuted by Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Deschamps addressed the situation involving Mbappe during a post-match press conference following France’s win over Paraguay. He emphasized that the public perception of Mbappe does not align with the truth.
“You all paint Kylian Mbappe as a dictator, but in reality, it’s quite the opposite. His public image doesn’t reflect the truth at all. Kylian has always exhibited maturity, and the entire team looks up to him. I am thrilled to have Kylian as our captain. Whenever he speaks, both on and off the field, he embodies the voice of the team.”
Is the Ballon d’Or on the horizon for Mbappe?
Despite Real Madrid’s challenging 2025-26 season, Mbappe shone brightly, scoring 42 goals in 44 matches. If he leads the World Cup scoring charts while winning the tournament for the second time, he will undoubtedly emerge as a top contender for his first Ballon d’Or. However, that thought is likely far from his current focus.