Kylian Mbappe Opens Up on Racist Abuse and Nearly Quitting French National Team

Kylian Mbappe, widely regarded as one of the world's premier football talents, constantly faces high expectations, particularly from Real Madrid supporters. Despite an impressive season of 38 goals in 35 matches, the 27-year-old acknowledges that criticism is an inherent part of his career.

A recurring point of contention, especially since his arrival at Real Madrid, concerns Mbappe's perceived lack of defensive contribution. While previously defended by France head coach Didier Deschamps on this matter, Mbappe recently offered his perspective during an interview on The Bridge, as reported by Marca.

"I am a player who defends slightly less than my teammates, and occasionally, that can create an issue. It's true I contribute less defensively, but I've observed that my defensive efforts significantly influence the team. At Real Madrid, when I engage in defensive duties, it's noticeable that everyone else follows suit. I receive criticism for this, but it doesn't trouble me as I consider it constructive."

Mbappe Reveals Racist Abuse After Euro 2020 Penalty Miss

Additionally, Mbappe disclosed the vitriolic abuse directed at him following his crucial penalty miss for France against Switzerland at Euro 2020 (held in 2021), a moment that resulted in France's elimination. He confessed that the experience nearly compelled him to permanently withdraw from the national team.

He stated, "I genuinely considered leaving the French national team. I had prioritized France extremely highly, but immediately after my failure, numerous individuals began calling me a monkey and subjecting me to insults. It made me question: Are these the people I'm fighting for on the pitch?" He continued, "It was a profound fall from grace, as my inaugural tournament with France was the 2018 World Cup, which we won. I was very young and perceived as a national hero. To then face such backlash in the very next tournament was incredibly difficult."