Kylian Mbappé is eager to engage in a Golden Boot competition with Lionel Messi, whom he regards as the “It is always a pleasure to be able to play in national team, and there is nothing bigger than that for me,” However, he has emphasized that his individual goals will take a backseat to the team’s aspirations as France aims to secure a spot in the next round by defeating Iraq on Monday.
This World Cup marked Mbappé’s first experience in the international media spotlight, a challenge he navigated with great poise. He addressed various topics, from defending teammate Ousmane Dembélé to discussing the contentious hydration breaks, while his manager, Didier Deschamps, took a more confrontational approach.
“To reach 100 caps, that’s historic, to do it at a World Cup all the more so. So it’s a special match for me, but the thing that is clear in my mind is that we need to win in order to qualify.” Mbappé stated, gearing up for a significant milestone—his 100th cap for Les Bleus at just 27 years old. “I knew Messi would go and score goals, he always does,”
Following his impressive two-goal performance against Senegal, Mbappé has tallied 14 World Cup goals, placing him just two behind Miroslav Klose’s all-time record, which Messi matched with his hat-trick against Algeria. “He is ahead of me but I will keep scoring to help our squad go as far as possible. When you score goals it helps towards breaking records, but I want to win the World Cup.” Mbappé remarked. “Lionel is the best of the four players it’s clear,”
Mbappé Reflects on Team Dynamics
Both Messi and Mbappé showcased their scoring prowess during an extraordinary 48 hours of goal-scoring that also featured Harry Kane and Erling Haaland. Yet, when asked who stood out among them, Mbappé did not hesitate. “He is the best of the best with Cristiano [Ronaldo]. He’s shown over 15 years he has an amazing quality. For the rest, it’s a debate for journalists and fans. It’s good to debate but it’s not an issue in my head. I just try to show what I can do and show my ability on the biggest stage.” he asserted. “In the first half he was the best attacker, he made the play fluid,”
Mbappé mentioned that he has already reviewed the Senegal match twice, once alone and then with his coaching staff. He commended Dembélé’s contribution, despite the scrutiny he has faced from French media. Deschamps later defended Dembélé, asserting that the press has been overly critical.
“In the second half Michael Olise and I were decisive [in the opening goal] but Ousmane also contributed. If you see Michael’s pass, Ousmane creates the space. It doesn’t count in the stats, but it matters. He is the Ballon d’Or and everyone is on board.” Mbappé noted. “Don’t ask the players about it, we’ll change our mind all the time,”
On Hydration Breaks and Team Focus
Regarding the mandatory hydration breaks, Mbappé was concise in his views. “If we’re up and it disrupts our play I won’t like it. If it’s hot, I’ll think it’s good.” he said. “If we’re up and it disrupts our play I won’t like it. If it’s hot, I’ll think it’s good.”
