French captain Kylian Mbappe has publicly committed to increasing his defensive contributions as the two-time world champions gear up for their World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Real Madrid forward has been under considerable scrutiny recently, with questions raised about his overall performance and leadership qualities for both his club and the national side. Teammate Ousmane Dembele had previously defended Mbappe, suggesting the criticism had become excessive.
Speaking to French newspaper La Parisien, Mbappe directly addressed concerns, including a light-hearted jab from his younger brother Ethan, who plays for Ligue 1 side Lille, regarding his defensive capabilities. Mbappe acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "I need to take the extra step [with my defensive work] because it's something important for the team and I have to do it." He further emphasised his dedication to success, adding, "It will start this time because we want to win, and to win, I'm ready to do whatever because I want to win at all costs."
Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid from Paris St-Germain in 2024, experienced a challenging second season at the Bernabeu. Despite being La Liga's top scorer, the club failed to secure any silverware, amidst reports of fan frustration and dressing room discord. Data from Opta highlighted his minimal defensive impact, placing him 1,350th out of 1,490 players in Europe's top five leagues (England, Spain, France, Italy, and Germany) for combined interceptions, blocks, tackles made, and possession won, among players with at least 19 league appearances. His average of 0.14 tackles per 90 minutes was the fifth lowest in these rankings.
Despite these recent club-level defensive statistics, Mbappe boasts an impressive World Cup record, having scored 12 goals in 14 matches, including a hat-trick in the 2022 final against Argentina. As he takes on the captaincy for the first time in a World Cup, having succeeded Hugo Lloris in 2023, another goal would see him draw level with Olivier Giroud as France's all-time leading scorer in the tournament. France's group stage fixtures will see them face Iraq and Norway after their initial match against Senegal.
The emphasis on Mbappe's defensive work comes at a crucial time for France, as they aim to navigate a competitive World Cup group and build momentum for a deep run in the tournament. The tactical shift, if implemented consistently, could provide a significant boost to the team's overall solidity and collective effort, potentially alleviating pressure on the midfield and defence.
Source: La Parisien, Opta