Kylian Mbappé left the France national team camp after the friendly against Northern Ireland, and the timing raised eyebrows almost immediately. The departure was officially approved for personal reasons, but photos of the Real Madrid forward surfacing in Madrid with his partner gave critics in France plenty to talk about.
Some supporters back home have questioned whether Mbappé is putting his personal life ahead of his commitments to Les Bleus, especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup around the corner. His early exit from a training session a few days prior had already set off whispers about a possible injury, though France have not confirmed any serious fitness concern.
The federation says further medical evaluations are coming, and for now Mbappé is still expected to lead the squad at the tournament. France head into the World Cup as one of the favourites, with a star-studded group that includes Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Rayan Cherki.
Their opening game is against Senegal on June 16, and the question everyone in the football world is sitting with is simple: will their captain be ready?
Originally published by NotJustOk.