Mbappe Under Pressure as France Eye Strong Start Against Senegal

Kylian Mbappe enters France’s World Cup opener against Senegal amid growing scrutiny following a trophyless season at Real Madrid and questions over his leadership as captain.

Despite finishing as La Liga’s top scorer, Mbappe faced criticism for his performances in key matches and his influence on the team, with some former players questioning his role as captain. He also failed to score in recent warm-up games, adding to the pressure.

However, support within the France squad remains strong. Teammates including Ousmane Dembele and Lucas Hernandez have defended him, saying the criticism is unfair and highlighting his leadership and motivation ahead of the tournament.

France, one of the favourites for the title, will look to Mbappe’s World Cup pedigree to deliver once again. The forward has an impressive record in the competition, scoring 12 goals in 14 appearances, and is close to breaking major scoring milestones as he leads his team into another campaign.