Kylian Mbappé has given one of his most candid interviews yet, speaking to L’Équipe Magazine in a wide-ranging feature that coincided with his record-breaking 52nd goal for France in their 2-1 win over Iceland. The Real Madrid forward touched on the pressures of modern football, his ongoing legal dispute with Paris Saint-Germain, and how life off the pitch has shaped him.
Mbappé admitted that his passion
for playing is what keeps him grounded despite the darker side of the sport:
“I’m fatalist about the world of football, but not about life. Life is wonderful. Football is what it is.
I like to say that people who go to the stadium are lucky to only come and see a show and not know what’s going on behind the scenes. Honestly, if I didn’t have this passion, the football world would have disgusted me a long time ago.
That’s the world we live in, and we can’t change it. I will never advise a child of mine to step into the football world.”
A Conflict With PSG Still Hanging Over Him
The 26-year-old left PSG for Real Madrid last summer after years of tension. Though he has withdrawn his harassment complaint, he is now seeking €55 million in alleged unpaid wages and bonuses. PSG, however, claim Mbappé agreed to forgo the money when he departed for Spain, and have filed a counterclaim of €98 million.
Mbappé addressed the situation directly:
“The more money you have, the more problems you have. Some people don’t see that your life has changed; they want to hold on to the image of you as a child, when you were with them. But you’re not the same person any more. You have responsibilities, commitments, a job, people to answer to …”
On PSG, he added:
“It’s my right, it’s employment law. I signed an employment contract. I just wanted to be paid. I have nothing against PSG, I love the club, I have friends there, but this is the only way to get what I’m owed, something I’ve earned through the sweat of my brow.”
On Pressure, Criticism, and Public Opinion
In the interview, Mbappé also opened up about the scrutiny he faces as one of football’s biggest stars:
“I often say that people don’t know me. A lot of what is said about me is far from the truth. Some people spend their entire careers waiting for recognition or for people to really know who they are. You have to learn to live with that.
You waste a lot of energy if you spend your time fighting it, and you’ll never win. When you look at the great French athletes, they’ve all been torn apart by public opinion at some point. I think it’s a necessary part of the process, and I’m fine with that.”
Asked whether he feels fans demand too much of him, Mbappé was unequivocal:
“I’ve never wanted to accept failure, so I don’t mind being criticised for it. I’m very hard on myself, more so than most people, so I’m very comfortable with that.”
