Kylian Mbappé’s early departure from the France national team camp following the friendly against Northern Ireland has sparked criticism back home in France.
Despite the fact that the exit was officially approved due to personal reasons, the Real Madrid star was later spotted in Madrid with his partner. This has led some supporters to question his priorities, with critics arguing that he is placing his personal life ahead of his responsibilities to the national team.
Why did Kylian Mbappe leave the France camp?
The development has raised concerns for both France and Real Madrid, given Mbappé’s importance to Didier Deschamps’ side heading into the tournament. France are expected to provide further updates after additional medical evaluations, while fans await confirmation on whether the striker will be available for Les Bleus’ World Cup opening game.
The news initially sparked fears because Mbappé had left a training session early a few days earlier, leading to speculation about a possible injury. However, France have not announced any serious fitness issue, and the striker remains expected to lead Les Bleus at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
France will head into the tournament as one of the favourites, with Mbappé captaining a star-studded squad that includes Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Rayan Cherki. Their World Cup campaign begins against Senegal on June 16.