Kylian Mbappe has insisted that proving critics wrong is not what motivates him, despite continuing to face scrutiny throughout his career.
The France superstar, who scored twice in his country’s World Cup victory over Senegal, addressed the criticism that often surrounds his performances and made it clear that his focus remains on achieving success with the national team.
“This is not about revenge,” Mbappe said after the match. “If I started playing for everyone who criticizes me and tried to silence them, I would have to keep playing until I was 80 years old.”
The forward emphasized that his true ambition is to leave a lasting legacy in French football and help France lift another World Cup trophy.
“I play to make history for my country and to help my team win the World Cup. This was only the first group-stage match. People can react emotionally and criticize, but we have to stay calm and focused on what we do.”
Mbappe’s performance against Senegal was historic for another reason. His two goals took his World Cup tally to 14, making him the highest-scoring French player in World Cup history.
The record had previously belonged to Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals for France on football’s biggest stage. Mbappe has now surpassed that mark and continues to add to his remarkable international legacy at just 27 years of age.
Related Stories
