France captain Kylian Mbappé has issued an open letter to supporters, breaking his silence one week after the 2026 World Cup concluded. The forward, who finished as the tournament’s top goalscorer, published his message across several major French newspapers on Monday as the national team prepares to enter a new era.
Mbappé’s correspondence arrives following a bittersweet campaign in which Les Bleus reached the semi-finals but ultimately missed out on a medal. France suffered a 2-0 defeat to eventual champions Spain in the last four, before conceding six goals in a remarkable 6-4 defeat against England in the Bronze final.
Acknowledging the pain
In his address, the 27-year-old acknowledged the disappointment of falling short at the final hurdle. “We didn’t bring home the trophy. It hurts and it will continue to hurt for a while, I’m not going to lie to you about that,” he wrote, referencing the semi-final elimination in America.
While Mbappé’s individual exploits earned him the Golden Boot as the competition’s leading marksman, the captain made clear that collective glory remained the ultimate objective. Despite the painful conclusion to their campaign, he emphasised his pride in the squad’s commitment. “We don’t always choose the end of the story, we choose what we put into it, and we put everything in it. This is something we are proud of,” he stated, offering gratitude to team-mates, Didier Deschamps‘ departing staff and supporters who made the journey or watched from home.
New chapter begins
The publication coincides with the departure of Deschamps, who steps down after overseeing France’s campaign. Zinédine Zidane is set to be officially announced as the new manager on Tuesday, marking a fresh chapter for the national side.
Mbappé expressed optimism about the future, signalling his continued dedication to the French team. “This World Cup is over, but the story goes on. There will be other games, other summer or winter evenings where we’ll all come together again in front of this same game, with the same desire intact. We’re not done playing together. Thank you for everything,” he concluded.
The transition from Deschamps to Zidane represents one of the most significant managerial changes in recent French football history. With Mbappé retaining the captain’s armband and his scoring form from the tournament, the 27-year-old will remain the focal point as Les Bleus shift their focus towards upcoming international competitions.