The 27-year-old striker, who has won one championship and one runner-up in the previous two World Cups, will enter the tournament this time with the captain’s armband and a more leadership role.
Fully prepared for a grueling battle
“Physically, I feel great,” Mbappé said at the beginning of his talks about the physical condition and the preparation process of the French national team. I am extremely happy to be here with the national team. This is a big moment for us. We have started in earnest and have gone through a good preparation. We know that the road ahead will be exhausting, but we are ready to compete and fight to return to the finals.”
psychological pressure; We must suffer
The French star, who has the experience of two exciting World Cups in his career, talked about the psychological pressure of these competitions: “Looking at the two World Cups that I have played in, there were definitely dark moments. We all know that very few players can really last at this level, it’s a fact you just have to accept. I truly believe that to make history, you have to suffer. We made history once and now we want to do it again. “But then again, every team that comes to the World Cup is looking to write its own history.”
A championship is more important than anything else
The important question that was asked to Mbappe was, is he willing to exchange his individual success in the goalscoring table with his team’s championship? He immediately replied: “In the blink of an eye, I am ready to sign this contract right now.” “If it means our victory, I will gladly be the first to lead the celebration on the Champs Elysees.”
new role; A leader who does not teach football to his teammates
In his third World Cup, Mbappe is no longer the 19-year-old in 2018. He is now considered an experienced leader in the French dressing room. “I’m very happy to play in these tournaments and have the opportunity to help our younger players, especially with the emotional side of the game,” he said. Given the high quality of this squad, I’m clearly not here to teach my teammates how to play football. It’s all about knowing how to manage pressure. Everyone has to peak at exactly the right time because building a cohesive team is not easy.”
“I know exactly how hard it is to win the World Cup,” Mbappe said of the challenge of staying motivated after winning the title in Russia. Over the years, the real challenge is keeping that appetite and excitement intact. “That drive is what takes you deep into the tournament.”
You will go home with a bad game!
France are considered one of the main contenders for the title, but Mbappe cautions against that label: “The World Cup is not like a club tournament with two legs, here, one bad game sends you home. You have to control your emotions. This is the message I try to convey day by day. “At the end of the day, we haven’t achieved anything yet.”
Senegal, the first opponent; A fascinating history in New York
France will face African champions Senegal in their first match at the 2026 World Cup. Mbappe said about this match: “Are they a tough opponent? Of course, this is the World Cup and they are the African champions. Wait, I don’t know if we are talking about Senegal or Morocco. “Anyway, they’re a great team and it’s exciting to start against them.”
“I know there is a lot of history between Senegal and France, which will only heighten the sensitivity of the game,” he said of the importance of the game. It’s going to be a big game in New York. Plus, it’s great for the country’s younger fans, starting at 9pm, they can watch the whole match before bed. “It’s fun to start like this, but we have to remove any lingering doubts early and secure the win.”
pursuit of historical records; With championship priority
Mbappe is currently among the best goalscorers in the history of the World Cup. “It’s a good feeling because I’m on the all-time leading scorers list, although I don’t know if it’s entirely fair because everyone else is so much older than me,” he said of the record.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play in two World Cups, reach the finals and perform at a high level,” he continued. Naturally, I want to continue rewriting the history books. “But above all, what I want most is to fly to France with that trophy.”
Argentina; There is no obsession for revenge
One of the most interesting parts of Mbappé’s interview was talking about the possible confrontation with Argentina. “No, there is no revenge,” he said firmly. Even if we win this World Cup, we cannot win consecutive championships. They beat us and they deserved it. There is no obsession in the locker room to face them again or settle scores. If our paths cross, we will meet them with all our might. “But it’s not something we’re actively focusing on.”
Message to fans
At the end of his speech, the French star said to the fans of the French national team: “We will do everything in our power to make the French people proud. “We will do everything we can to get to that final and step on the field on July 19.”
