Is Mbappé too good for France?

Is Mbappé Too Good for France? A Star’s Journey Through Racism and National Identity

Is Mbappé too good for France? The question echoes through French football as the national team prepares for a World Cup semifinal clash against Spain on Tuesday. Kylian Mbappé, now in his athletic prime and serving as captain, has scored twenty career World Cup goals—second only to Lionel Messi in tournament history. Yet despite his legendary status, the French star continues to face prejudice that transcends borders and generations. His journey raises an important question: Is Mbappé too good for France?

A Near-Departure in 2021

Five years prior, Mbappé nearly abandoned international football entirely. France entered Euro 2020 as tournament favorites but suffered a devastating Round of 16 defeat to Switzerland. After dominating most of the match, the Swiss scored twice late and forced a penalty shootout. Mbappé took the crucial kick, but the goalkeeper saved it, ending France’s campaign. The defeat triggered harsh media coverage. ESPN labeled it a “huge failure,” while French newspapers ran headlines declaring “Disillusionment” and “Devastated.”

For the twenty-two-year-old forward, the sporting disappointment morphed into something more personal. Social media erupted with racist attacks targeting his heritage. One particularly vicious tweet circulated widely, calling him a “dirty n***er” who deserved “a hundred lashes and be sold in Libya.” Despite being born in Paris and having helped France win the World Cup just two years earlier, these facts offered little protection.

“I cannot play for people who think I’m a monkey. I’m not gonna play,” Mbappé told FFF President Noël Le Graët at the time.

He ultimately returned to the squad, leading France to the 2022 World Cup Final in Qatar. Though they lost to Argentina on penalties, his performance cemented his reputation as one of football’s elite talents. This experience shaped how he views his place in French society.

Political Crosshairs

Of Cameroonian and Algerian descent, Mbappé has become a lightning rod for debates about French identity. His very presence represents either multicultural success or cultural dilution, depending on who speaks. This year, he found himself in a public dispute with National Rally leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella.

After Mbappé warned French citizens about the far-right party in a Vanity Fair interview, both politicians responded by noting that Paris Saint-Germain won the UEFA Champions League after he departed. Le Pen, widely expected to win next year’s presidential race, has advocated halting immigration and once likened Muslims praying publicly to Nazi occupation.

The French national team, composed primarily of first- and second-generation immigrants, has historically opposed Le Pen’s movement. In 2024, Mbappé alongside Ousmane Dembélé and teammates encouraged citizens to vote against the National Rally’s growing poll 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 argument, repeated by other party members, suggests that success erases immigrant identity. Critics call it flawed logic, noting that achievement provides protection rather than removing one’s roots. The debate continues to fuel discussions about whether Is Mbappé too good for France.

Global Racism Follows

Even after France eliminated Paraguay in the current tournament, new racist attacks emerged. Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla unleashed a furious tirade against Mbappé, calling him a “colonized Cameroonian, pretending hard to be French.” She added that “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 eventually retracted her comments, attributing them to being “in the heat of the moment.” She then attempted to frame Mbappé’s rejection of racism as gender-based violence, writing in an Instagram letter: “Retract your remarks, honor your French citizenship and apologize to me.”

French President Emmanuel Macron publicly supported Mbappé, posting on X: “Another goal for Kylian Mbappé. Against racism this time.” Le Pen remained silent.

Racist abuse continues to follow Mbappé across competitions. During the 2025-26 season with Real Madrid in Spain, monkey chants plagued him in a match against Real Oviedo, resulting in a spectator’s detention. Similar incidents occurred after France’s 2022 World Cup loss, when Black French players faced a barrage of slurs and hateful messages from opposing supporters.