Kylian Mbappé doesn’t need to give long explanations. One sentence is enough: “Many of us come from neighborhoods where these things destroyed a lot of people.” 💬 That’s what he told Canal Plus when they asked why he refused to take part in gambling ads — and he still holds that position firmly today, in the middle of the 2026 World Cup.
The conflict with the French Football Federation (FFF) is nothing new. Back in Qatar 2022, he refused to pose in a photo session organized by the FFF for BetClic, its betting sponsor. At this World Cup he did it again, and several Les Bleus teammates are taking the same stance. His lawyer, Delphine Verheyden, has publicly come out in his defense, warning about the risk of distorting the image a footballer builds throughout an entire career. 🔥
Meanwhile, the contrast could not be clearer: Messi appears in betting ads, and in Chile, Arturo Vidal even created his own betting house — “Play with the King” — although he had to backtrack when controversy erupted over the fact that people could bet on matches he himself was playing in. Gary Medel also promotes these platforms. With 4 goals and sitting second in the Golden Boot race, Mbappé is one of the tournament’s standout figures. And even so, he prefers that his name not appear where he feels it causes harm. ⚽