Kylian Mbappé remains out of France duty, but the captain has ensured his presence is still felt during the international break. Away from the squad after suffering an injury against Turkey, the Real Madrid forward posted a smiling cycling video on Sunday, accompanied by a song whose lyrics appeared to play with the criticism surrounding him.
The move
Mbappé scored in France’s 1-0 victory over Turkey, the first match of Zinédine Zidane’s era in charge, before picking up the injury that ended his involvement in the Nations League window.
He subsequently missed the 1-0 win against Belgium and the 1-1 draw with Italy. France will again face Belgium on Monday night at the Stade de France, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45, but their captain will not be available.
The 26-year-old has nevertheless remained a central figure in the conversation around Les Bleus. His social-media post showed him riding through the countryside, smiling into the camera. It followed another recent video in which he was seen training on a treadmill.
The soundtrack was Michel Fugain and Big Bazar’s “Les gentils, les Méchants”. Its line asking who is “very bad” offered an apparently ironic response to the debate around the forward, although Mbappé has not explained the intended meaning of the post.
The French season around it
Mbappé’s absence has arrived amid scrutiny over several issues linked to his place in the France set-up. His Ballon d’Or rivalry has reportedly cooled his relationship with Ousmane Dembélé, while his use on the left side of the attack has also prompted discussion.
- Kylian Mbappé: France captain and Real Madrid forward, sidelined after the Turkey match.
- Ousmane Dembélé: France attacker whose relationship with Mbappé has been affected by the Ballon d’Or race.
- Zinédine Zidane: France coach at the beginning of his tenure.
Mbappé has also faced attention following a night out at a Paris nightclub. The cycling clip did not directly address any of those subjects, but its music choice gave the post a mischievous edge.
France will have to complete the Belgium fixture without their captain. Mbappé, meanwhile, remains under the lights even while recovering away from the national team camp.
