Overview
- Kylian Mbappé published a lengthy open letter to French supporters on Monday that was republished in regional papers and posted on his social accounts.
- He wrote that failing to win a team trophy “hurts and will continue to hurt for a while,” thanked teammates and backroom staff, and said he had already spoken privately with coach Didier Deschamps.
- Mbappé finished the tournament with 10 goals, taking his career World Cup total to 22 and the Golden Boot, but he said the individual honours could not replace the missed collective prize.
- The forward is on holiday now and is expected to rejoin Real Madrid ahead of the 2026–27 season under José Mourinho.
- Deschamps’ departure and Zidane’s expected appointment mark a transitional moment for Les Bleus that Mbappé’s letter frames as the start of a new phase for the team and its leadership.