Just days before the 2026 World Cup, Mbappe suddenly faced public criticism from a French football pundit, turning his performance into a topic of major debate.
According to the French press, Kylian Mbappe continues to be the center of debate even though the French national team just defeated Northern Ireland 3-1 in their final home friendly match before heading to the 2026 World Cup. On a day when Michael Olise shined with his first hat-trick in a Les Bleus shirt, the French captain failed to leave as much of a mark as expected.
Mbappe was named in the starting lineup by head coach Didier Deschamps and had some notable chances. The Real Madrid forward did put the ball into the opponent’s net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Previously, he also failed in a one-on-one situation against goalkeeper Pierce Charles. Following the match, harsh remarks from former international Johan Micoud quickly caught the attention of the French public.
Speaking to the media, as quoted by Foot Mercato, Micoud did not hesitate to point out what he considers to be the problem in Mbappe’s current playing style. The former player believes that the 27-year-old star is trying to take on a role that does not suit his inherent strengths.
Micoud bluntly stated: “Someone needs to tell Mbappé that he is not Neymar. Maybe people don’t dare to say it to him. You are the type of player who performs best when there is space to exploit!”. This comment quickly generated much debate as it was made during a period when the French team is finalizing their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Micoud’s criticisms drew even more attention given that Mbappe’s recent form in the national team shirt has not been truly convincing. According to statistics cited by the French media, the striker has neither scored nor assisted in his last three appearances for Les Bleus. This is a rather surprising figure for a player always considered the leader of the attack.
While Mbappe experienced a relatively lackluster match, Michael Olise became the hero with three goals against Northern Ireland. The 3-1 victory helps the French team maintain their momentum before entering the 2026 World Cup. However, Micoud’s statement regarding Mbappe was the most talked-about topic, demonstrating the growing pressure on Les Bleus‘ number one star ahead of their journey to conquer the world championship.
