France captain Kylian Mbappe has pledged to improve his defensive contribution as Les Bleus prepare for their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Senegal on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Real Madrid forward has faced criticism in recent months over both his performances and leadership for club and country. However, teammate Ousmane Dembele recently defended him, saying some of the criticism had gone too far.
In an interview with French newspaper La Parisien, Mbappe responded to questions from friends and teammates about his game. During the discussion, his younger brother Ethan Mbappe jokingly raised concerns about his defensive work.
Mbappe admitted he needs to improve in that area.
“I need to take the extra step because it’s something important for the team, and I have to do it,” he said.
“It will start this time because we want to win. To win, I’m ready to do whatever it takes because I want to win at all costs.”
The French star joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024. Since then, he has experienced a challenging second season in Spain. Although he finished as La Liga’s top scorer, Real Madrid ended the campaign without a major trophy.
As a result, questions have emerged about his overall contribution to the team. Statistics from Opta highlight his struggles defensively compared to other players in Europe’s top five leagues.
Despite those concerns, Mbappe remains one of football’s biggest stars on the international stage. He has scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup appearances, including a memorable hat-trick in the 2022 final against Argentina.
Furthermore, he is closing in on another major milestone. One more international goal will see him draw level with Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer.
This tournament is also his first World Cup as captain after taking over the armband from Hugo Lloris in 2023.
Following their opening game against Senegal, France will face Iraq and Norway in their remaining group-stage matches as they aim to challenge for a third World Cup title.
