Is Mbappé too good for France?

Kylian Mbappé: Is He Too Good for France After Recent Racism Controversy?

A Star’s Journey Through National Pride and Public Criticism

Is Mbappé too good for France – Five years have elapsed since Kylian Mbappé nearly walked away from representing his country. France arrived at Euro 2020 as a top contender, yet suffered a painful elimination against Switzerland in the Round of 16. The French side controlled most of the game before Switzerland scored twice late, forcing a penalty shootout. Mbappé took the crucial spot-kick, firing a powerful shot that the keeper pushed away. The loss stunned many fans. ESPN called it a “major setback,” while Le Parisien’s headline read “Disillusionment.” L’Equipe simply stated “Devastated.” The young star then faced an onslaught of racist messages online. One viral comment declared, “This dirty n***er deserves to receive a hundred lashes and be sold in Libya.” Despite being a Paris native and a World Cup winner, these facts did little to shield him from the hostility. Mbappé reportedly told French Football Federation President Noël Le Graët, “I cannot play for people who think I’m a monkey. I’m not gonna play.”

He chose to stay. The next year, Mbappé led France to another World Cup Final in Qatar, where they lost to Argentina on penalties. Now in 2026, France sits in the semifinals, preparing to meet Spain on Tuesday. At his absolute best, Mbappé has become an even more dominant force than in 2021. As captain and leading scorer, he has netted 20 World Cup goals, ranking second behind Lionel Messi all-time. Yet his fame provides no shield against scrutiny or abuse.

Political Tensions and Questions of Belonging

With Cameroonian and Algerian heritage, Mbappé represents two opposing visions of modern France. Some view him as proof of the nation’s multicultural strength; others see him as evidence of traditional identity being diluted. This World Cup cycle brought Mbappé into a heated public disagreement with National Rally figures Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella. After a Vanity Fair interview where Mbappé warned French voters about the far-right party, both leaders pointed out that Paris Saint-Germain won the UEFA Champions League after he left. Le Pen, seen as a potential presidential candidate, has pushed for stopping all immigration and once compared Muslims praying in public to the Nazi occupation of France. The national team, made up largely of first- and second-generation immigrants, has traditionally stood against Le Pen’s agenda. In 2024, Mbappé and teammate Ousmane Dembélé urged French citizens to vote after the National Rally’s strong polling numbers.

“Mbappé doesn’t represent French people with an immigration background,” Le Pen told CNN later that year. “Because there are far more of them living on the minimum wage, who can’t afford housing and can’t afford heating, than people like Mr. Mbappé.”

This perspective, though debatable, has been repeated by other party members: the idea that success erases immigrant roots. In reality, such accomplishments may offer protection rather than create separation. After France defeated Paraguay in the current tournament, Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla launched a wave of racist commentary aimed at Mbappé and his national identity. She labeled him a “colonized Cameroonian, pretending hard to be French” and added, “The brute didn’t even learn to write; instead of mother’s milk, he sucked on coconuts, and the most educated things he heard were chimpanzees.” Amarilla later retracted her comments, saying they came from being “in the heat of the moment.” She then tried to portray Mbappé’s rejection of racism as gender-based violence. “Retract your remarks, honor your French citizenship and apologize to me,” she wrote in an Instagram letter. French President Emmanuel Macron publicly backed Mbappé, posting on X: “Another goal for Kylian Mbappé. Against racism this time.” Le Pen stayed silent. Throughout his career, both critics and admirers have hurled racist insults at him. While playing for Real Madrid during the 2025-26 season, Mbappé endured monkey chants during a match against Real Oviedo, leading to a fan being arrested. When France left the 2022 World Cup, Mbappé and other Black French players faced another wave of racist slurs and hateful messages.