Mbappe targets World Cup redemption after turbulent season at Real Madrid
His season was also overshadowed by controversy off the pitch.
KATHMANDU: France captain Kylian Mbappé is heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup with renewed focus, turning away from a disappointing and controversial club campaign at Real Madrid to lead France’s charge for global glory.
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, Mbappé endured a difficult second season in Spain, despite producing outstanding individual numbers. He scored over 40 goals across competitions, including 25 in La Liga and a combined 17 in the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey. However, Real Madrid failed to win any major trophy, leaving the season widely viewed as a disappointment.
The campaign unraveled further in its final stages, with Mbappé’s form dipping sharply after February. Injury problems, off-field controversies, and reported tensions with interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa further complicated his season, during which he managed only four goals in the closing months.
Real Madrid’s trophyless year was marked by multiple setbacks. Under pressure following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, the club suffered early elimination in the Copa del Rey at the hands of Albacete, while their UEFA Champions League campaign ended in the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich. In La Liga, defeats in key matches against rivals FC Barcelona saw Madrid finish eight points behind the champions.
Ironically, Mbappé’s former club PSG went on to secure back-to-back Champions League titles after his departure, intensifying scrutiny over his decision to leave Paris for Madrid.
His season was also overshadowed by controversy off the pitch. Reports of a training-ground disagreement with a coach, injury-related absences, and public criticism from sections of Real Madrid supporters added to the pressure. A hamstring injury during the final stretch of the season further limited his impact, and he was later spotted on a recovery trip in Sardinia alongside actress Esther Expósito, drawing backlash from fans already frustrated with the team’s struggles.
At one point, online campaigns reportedly calling for his departure gained traction among supporters, while even Real Madrid fans were heard booing players during late-season matches as tensions inside the squad escalated.
Now, however, Mbappé has shifted his full attention to international duty with France national football team, where he remains one of the most decisive players in world football.
He has previously delivered on the sport’s biggest stage. In the 2018 World Cup, he scored four goals as France lifted the trophy, drawing global comparisons to Pelé. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he scored eight goals, including a stunning hat-trick in the final against Argentina, though France narrowly missed out on the title.
Heading into 2026 in North America, Mbappé is on the verge of several historic milestones. He is just one goal behind Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer. In World Cup history, he is chasing the record held by Just Fontaine (13 goals), while Germany legend Miroslav Klose remains the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 16 goals. Mbappé currently sits on 12 World Cup goals, ahead of Lionel Messi’s 13.
Speaking recently, Mbappé stressed that representing France remains his greatest motivation, saying his goal is to lead the team back to World Cup glory and secure a lasting legacy for both himself and French football history.
After a turbulent club season, the 2026 World Cup now stands as the defining stage for Mbappé—one that could reshape his career narrative and cement his place among football’s all-time greats.
