News Focus
- Kylian Mbappé set to earn 100th international cap for France against Iraq
- Forward sits two goals behind Lionel Messi in race for World Cup Golden Boot
- Captain defends winger Ousmane Dembélé against media criticism
- Les Bleus need three points to confirm qualification from Group C
The France captain will reach a century of appearances for his country when Les Bleus face Iraq on Monday, aged just 27. The striker faced the global media for the first time at this tournament and remained composed throughout the session. He spoke calmly about his teammates and the challenges ahead, leaving the tougher responses to manager Didier Deschamps.
Mbappé has scored 14 goals at World Cup finals after netting twice against Senegal in the opening match. Messi moved onto 16 goals with a hat-trick against Algeria, equalling Miroslav Klose’s all-time record. “I knew Messi would go and score goals, he always does,” Mbappé said. “He is ahead of me but I will keep scoring to help our squad go as far as possible.”
The Paris Saint-Germain forward described Messi as the “best of the best” alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. “He’s shown over 15 years he has an amazing quality,” Mbappé explained. “For the rest, it’s a debate for journalists and fans. It’s good to debate but it’s not an issue in my head. I just try to show what I can do and show my ability on the biggest stage.”
The French number nine also offered strong support for Ousmane Dembélé, whose form has drawn heavy criticism from local reporters. Deschamps later insisted the press were “very much on his back”. Mbappé highlighted Dembélé’s role in the victory over Senegal. “In the first half he was the best attacker, he made the play fluid,” he stated. “If you see Michael’s pass [for the goal], Ousmane creates the space. It doesn’t count in the stats, but it matters.”
Regarding the mandatory hydration breaks introduced during matches, Mbappé gave a practical view. “Don’t ask the players about it, we’ll change our mind all the time,” he said. “If we’re up and it disrupts our play I won’t like it. If it’s hot, I’ll think it’s good.”
The forward admitted he has already watched the Senegal match twice to analyse his performance. He stressed that breaking individual records remains secondary to lifting the trophy. “When you score goals it helps towards breaking records, but I want to win the World Cup,” he said. “To reach 100 caps, that’s historic, to do it at a World Cup all the more so. So it’s a special match for me, but the thing that is clear in my mind is that we need to win in order to qualify.”