Kylian Mbappe has the goals, the trophies, and the global reputation. But as the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws closer, not everyone is convinced he has what it takes to lead France there.
At 27, the Real Madrid forward is the undisputed captain of Les Bleus and one of the most accomplished players in the history of the French national team. In 94 appearances, he has scored 56 goals. He was a teenager when France lifted the trophy in Russia in 2018 and came within a penalty shootout of doing it again in Qatar four years later, capping the 2022 final with a hat-trick.
But France’s legend Frank Leboeuf is arguing with something else entirely.
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Frank Leboeuf Questions Mbappe's Leadership Qualities
The former French defender didn't mince words when asked about Mbappe's role as captain heading into the tournament. For Leboeuf, talent and leadership are two different conversations.
"No, Kylian Mbappe is not a leader for me because he's too selfish in his thoughts, in the way he thinks," Leboeuf said, per SportsBoom. "I don't know him. I met him only once when he was with the national team, and he was playing for Paris Saint-Germain, having just signed for Paris Saint-Germain at the time. Again, he's a great lad, well-educated, but his thinking, his way of thinking about football, doesn't align with my values of the game."
That's a pointed assessment, especially coming from someone who won the World Cup with France in 1998. Leboeuf isn't questioning Mbappe's ability on the ball. His concern is about what happens inside the dressing room and whether the captain's mindset genuinely serves the group.
Who Leboeuf Sees as True Leaders in the France Squad
When it comes to the qualities he actually values in a leader, Leboeuf pointed to players who put the team ahead of everything else. William Saliba and N'Golo Kante were the names he brought up, both known for their work ethic and low-key approach to the game.
He also praised Antoine Griezmann for consistently reflecting a team-first mentality throughout his international career. Leboeuf also backed recent comments from Ousmane Dembele around defensive effort and tracking back, framing that attitude as a baseline expectation in modern international football.
The criticism lands at a complicated time for Didier Deschamps. France carries elite attacking firepower into the World Cup but questions around defensive stability and squad chemistry haven't gone away. With the tournament just weeks out, how Mbappe handles the captaincy under pressure could define how far Les Bleus go in North America.
