Mbappé’s Bold Prediction Sparks Controversy During World Cup Qualifier
BAKU, azerbaijan – Kylian Mbappé ignited debate following France‘s match against Azerbaijan, making a confident statement about surpassing Olivier Giroud as the national team’s all-time leading scorer. The declaration, delivered during the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, drew criticism from some observers who deemed it disrespectful to opponents.
Mbappé, currently second in the French scoring ranks with 52 goals to Giroud’s 57, stated, “I’m not breaking any taboo if I say I can score goals against anyone. I think I’ll beat him but when, I don’t know. Maybe this Friday, who knows? Maybe in a longer time. It’s something that will come naturally and I’ll move on from there.”
the comments prompted a swift reaction from pundits. Jérôme Rothen and Jean-Michel Larqué, speaking on RMC, criticized Mbappé’s remarks as demonstrating “a lack of respect for the adversary.”
Despite the controversy, Mbappé emphasized his positive mindset and preparation for the season. “There is a new season, we were able to rest, have vacations, I was able to prepare well. I attacked the season well. It’s a bit premature, it’s only the beginning. I put in all the ingredients to get it off to a good start.We are starting to understand what the coach expects of us. Here in the selection, we were serious in the first two matches. I am in good spirits but I am working to do better.”
Mbappé also noted his adaptation to his new club, stating, “I have adapted well to Madrid, I am a little calmer there. This is not an attack on France…”
