Mbappé had official permission. The Federation knew about it, Deschamps approved it, no one signed off on any sanction. But when the alleged photos of France’s captain strolling through Madrid alongside actress Ester Expósito surfaced, just days before the World Cup debut against Senegal on 16 June, the permission stopped mattering to half of France
On one side are those who say a player is also a person: if the coach authorized it, the matter ends there. On the other are those who cannot understand how the man who is supposed to lead France to win the 2026 World Cup would prefer a flight to Madrid when L’Équipe had already been criticizing him for his performances against Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland. According to French media, Dembélé even demanded more involvement from him inside the dressing room.
Does Mbappé have a right to his private life even during the most important week of the year for his country, or are the French fans right to demand his full concentration?