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It’s surprising that there isn’t more excitement surrounding Kylian Mbappe as the countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues, though that can likely be attributed to a forgettable club campaign with Real Madrid. The French captain will surely be relieved to step away from the intense scrutiny of the Santiago Bernabeu, where he had become an outcast toward the end of the season, and shift his attention to creating history with France in North America.

Mbappe enters the tournament after a turbulent campaign in which he maintained his scoring touch but once again missed out on major silverware. His relationship with both the Madrid hierarchy and the fans deteriorated as the club’s season unraveled amid internal turmoil.

Away from the unrelenting pressure of one of the world’s most scrutinised clubs, the 27-year-old can now focus on leading France’s charge to reclaim their World Cup title following their loss in the 2022 final. He will be eager to remind the world of his brilliance on the grandest stage.

After a campaign he would rather forget at Madrid, Mbappe will be chasing history once more in North America — and few would bet against him achieving it.

Doing his part

It’s curious that the hype surrounding Mbappe has remained subdued with the World Cup so close. Despite Madrid’s struggles by their lofty standards, the forward still delivered impressive numbers.

He heads into the tournament after another prolific season, surpassing the 40-goal mark yet again with 25 strikes in La Liga and 17 more across the Champions League and Copa del Rey.

However, after a stunning first half of the 2025-26 season, his output dipped sharply in the second half. Between mid-February and the campaign’s end, he found the net just four times as injuries, off-field controversies, and questions over his relationship with interim head coach Alvaro Arbeloa took their toll.

Trophy-less

Mbappe’s reduced impact in the closing stages did little to help Madrid, who endured a second consecutive season without a major trophy since the Frenchman’s high-profile 2024 free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Following Xabi Alonso’s dismissal, Los Blancos were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by minnows Albacete in the round of 16 and later fell to a dominant Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, despite Mbappe scoring in both legs.

To compound their misery, Madrid surrendered the La Liga crown to fierce rivals Barcelona with a meek Clasico defeat in May, eventually finishing eight points adrift of Hansi Flick’s side.

Adding to his personal frustration, Mbappe had to watch his former club PSG lift back-to-back Champions League titles — the very trophy he left Paris to pursue.

Courting controversy

As is often the case at Real Madrid, a chaotic season unfolded amid serious off-field drama, and Mbappe found himself at the centre of multiple controversies. In late April, according to The Athletic, the 27-year-old clashed with a member of the backroom staff before a match against Real Betis, reportedly hurling abuse at a coach who flagged him offside in training — a sign of the toxic atmosphere enveloping the club.

Mbappe later suffered a hamstring injury during the Betis game, but instead of recuperating at Madrid’s Valdebebas facility, he spent his recovery period vacationing in Sardinia with his partner, Spanish actor Ester Exposito. Photos of the couple on a yacht surfaced as Madrid played Espanyol in La Liga, sparking internal and external criticism.

Though Arbeloa defended his star player, an online “Mbappe out” petition went viral, amassing over 12 million signatures in 24 hours and later surpassing 70 million. The striker then missed the decisive Clasico — where Madrid handed Barcelona the title — citing discomfort, before returning to the bench against Real Oviedo in mid-May.

Mbappe, however, took issue with his limited involvement. Speaking to the media after coming on as a substitute, he declared himself “100 percent fit” and claimed Arbeloa had informed him he was “fourth-choice striker.” Reports later suggested his frustration stemmed from Alonso’s earlier dismissal.

Arbeloa later denied the accusation, clarifying in a press conference: “He must have misunderstood me. I never said he was the fourth-choice striker. A player who wasn’t fit enough to make the bench a few days ago couldn’t have started today.”

According to The Athletic, there was “growing disappointment” with Mbappe “from the dressing room to the board.” His representatives responded by saying: “Some of the criticism stems from a misinterpretation of recovery-related details that were fully monitored by the club and do not reflect Kylian’s commitment or daily work.”

Escaping the boos

During the fixture against Oviedo, Mbappe was among several Real Madrid players booed by supporters at the Bernabeu following the club’s title capitulation and an infamous dressing-room altercation between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde.

It was reported that the forward preferred to skip the final two home matches to avoid the wrath of the fans, though he ultimately featured against both Oviedo and Athletic Club, scoring in the latter on the final day.

For Mbappe, the end of this turbulent club season will come as a relief. He can now focus on his favourite stage — the World Cup — though the lingering effects of such a volatile campaign remain uncertain.

During the March international break, Mbappe emphasised the importance of club form for international success. “This is not even up for debate. I’ve played two World Cups — won one, reached the final in the other,” he said. “How did I prepare? By playing every match with my club.”

World Cup icon

Mbappe will relish the upcoming World Cup not just because France are among the top contenders, but also for the personal milestones within reach. He has the chance to etch his name even deeper into football’s greatest tournament.

Having matched Pele’s feat by leading France to glory as a 19-year-old in 2018 with four goals in Russia, Mbappe was sensational again in 2022, scoring eight times — including a remarkable hat-trick in the final against Argentina.

This time, he is on the verge of becoming France’s all-time leading scorer, sitting just one goal behind Olivier Giroud’s 56. He could also surpass Just Fontaine’s record of 13 World Cup goals to become France’s top scorer in the competition.

Beyond national records, Mbappe could also chase the all-time World Cup scoring record. With 12 goals, he is closing in on Lionel Messi’s 13 and Miroslav Klose’s all-time mark of 16 for Germany. Given his age and form, he may well have the chance to set a new benchmark.

‘Insane for my legacy’

Despite the negativity surrounding his club season, Mbappe remains fully aware of the magnitude of the opportunity ahead as he aims for both personal and team glory with France.

“There is nothing better than representing your country — you become part of the elite of world footballers,” he told Vanity Fair. “It’s not easy being in a position where everyone expects miracles, but miracles happen only on the pitch.”

“I’m the captain now. It’s different — a bigger responsibility. But I’m ready to lead my team onto the biggest stage. I hope we bring the trophy back to Paris and celebrate on the Champs-Elysees.”

“When you play, you don’t think about legacy. You think about performing and winning. If we win, it will be insane — both for the legacy of the country and for mine.”