Kylian Mbappe vows to improve in one key area as Real Madrid striker makes 'win at all costs' France World Cup pledge
Updated 15/06/2026 at 21:56 GMT+1
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Kylian Mbappe said he will increase his defensive work for France at the World Cup amid criticism of his recent performances for one of the favourites for glory in North America.
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The Real Madrid forward continues to be prolific for club and country, but his reluctance to track back has been a topic of discussion.
And he admitted that he must "do whatever" is required to help France in their bid to win a third World Cup.
"I need to take the extra step [with my defensive work] because it's something important for the team and I have to do it," he told French newspaper Le Parisien.
"It will start this time because we want to win, and to win, I'm ready to do whatever because I want to win at all costs.
"It's good that people point out this part of the game. I've always been demanding of myself and I think I need to improve even more in this regard."
Mbappe, despite the scrutiny, scored 42 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid in 2025/26, and netted five times in four World Cup qualifiers for France.
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The 27-year-old could make World Cup history this summer: five goals in North America would take him above Miroslav Klose's 16 as the tournament's record scorer (assuming Lionel Messi does not score four or more).
Mbappe is also out to become the first player in history to score in three consecutive World Cup finals.
He remains a talismanic figure for France, then, and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defended his compatriot.
"Kylian Mbappe has often been unfairly criticised this season," Wenger said. "He's in a Real Madrid side that's been average.
"Kylian has physical freshness, he's not overworked. People tend to forget his exceptional talent. I'm willing to bet he has a great World Cup.
"Real Madrid has three or four world-class players. Before, they had 10. It's very cute, but football is such that we always need a scapegoat. He has become that."
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France manager Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, has highlighted Mbappe's role as the team's leader, following the retirement of Hugo Lloris in 2023.
”Kylian, today, who is our captain, before being captain, he listened, he looked, he doesn’t do things like Hugo," Deschamps told the Guardian.
"It’s not at all the same character and personality. He takes on this leadership outside, on the pitch as well, and he knows that when he speaks, he doesn’t speak in his own name, but he speaks in the name of all the players as well.”
Asked about his use of Mbappe in a central role, rather than as a wide forward, Deschamps said: ”I must be stupid, and there must have been a lot of stupid people who he has had as coaches to put him in the middle of the attack within the teams he has played.
"For the past two years at Real and his last year at PSG… it’s been three years that he has played in a central position."
France begin their World Cup campaign against Senegal on Tuesday, with kick-off at 20:00 UK time.
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