Kylian Mbappé, captain of France’s national soccer team, has voiced concerns about the rise of the far-right National Rally party in France. His comments, made in a Vanity Fair interview, come just a month before leading his team in the World Cup.
In the magazine interview, Mbappé expressed worry over the potential consequences if the far-right party, led by Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen, gained power. The party currently leads in polls ahead of upcoming presidential elections.
“I know what it means, and what kind of consequences it can have for my country when those kinds of people take control,” said Mbappé in the article.
His remarks sparked swift responses from Le Pen and Bardella, sparking debate over whether athletes should engage in political discourse. Despite the criticism, Mbappé stated, “We are citizens. We have a say, just like everyone else.”
Mbappé’s involvement in politics is notable given his status. Emerging from Paris’s working-class suburbs as a teenager, he led France to World Cup victory in 2018. At 27, his influence in the nation is significant, highlighted when President Emmanuel Macron urged him to remain with Paris St.-Germain in 2022, though he later moved to Real Madrid.
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