In France, Mbappé is under fire, with critics saying he chose his partner over the national team

Kylian Mbappé is expected to lead France at the 2026 World Cup as captain and the team’s biggest star, but on the very day the squad arrived in the United States, he found himself at the center of growing controversy back home. This week, Mbappé left the national team camp just hours after the friendly match against Northern Ireland. While the French Football Federation confirmed that the departure was for personal reasons, photos published afterward showed the Real Madrid striker in Madrid alongside his partner, the Spanish actress Ester Expósito. On social media, many fans argued that the star had put his personal life ahead of staying with the national team just days before the tournament begins.

This is not the first time Mbappé’s personal life has drawn criticism. During the season at Real Madrid, he also came under fire after being seen on vacation while recovering from an injury, as his team was battling for the season’s most important titles. Enter the guessing game, take part in the quiz and maybe win a זוגי package for the World Cup quarterfinals. Mbappé with the national team in the United States / GettyImages

Even before that, Mbappé was criticized by both fans and people around the national team, following a series of incidents that raised questions about his commitment and behavior. One of the images that sparked the uproar was taken before the warm-up match against Ivory Coast, when Mbappé and N'Golo Kanté were seen ignoring each other in the players’ tunnel. The video quickly went viral on social media and led to a wave of rumors about tensions between the two.

According to reports in France, the roots of the tension may stem from the friendly against Colombia in March. In that match, Kanté served as captain in honor of his birthday, but when Mbappé came on as a substitute, he asked to take the captain’s armband from him. The move drew criticism from some fans, who saw it as insensitive toward the Al-Ittihad midfielder. In addition, according to L'Équipe, Ousmane Dembélé approached Mbappé and asked him to increase his commitment to defensive duties and pressing the opponent. The report reignited the long-running debate over the Real Madrid star’s contribution off the ball and the extent of his involvement in France’s defensive play.

Despite all the noise around him, Mbappé will arrive at the World Cup with the biggest expectations on his shoulders in the French national team. After winning in 2018 and reaching the final in 2022, the French are dreaming of a third star, but for now it appears their captain has to deal not only with opponents on the pitch, but also with growing criticism from home.