Kylian Mbappe retains France captaincy, focused on performance

Kylian Mbappé is ready to lead France in their upcoming Nations League quarterfinal against Croatia. There were concerns about his captaincy after recent performances, but he has retained the role after talks with coach Didier Deschamps. Mbappé hasn't played for France in six months, following a loss to Italy in September. He reflected on his past mistakes as captain and admitted he didn’t perform well on and off the field during that time. At a press conference, he emphasized the importance of learning from criticism. Despite mixed reviews from fans and some frustrations with his previous performances, Mbappé remains focused. He stated that public opinion is not his primary concern. He has publicly accepted that some criticism was valid, acknowledging his struggles in the Italy match. Now back in form, Mbappé has scored 31 goals in 44 matches for Real Madrid this season. He feels happy and ready to support the French team. He ranks third on France’s all-time scoring list, with 48 goals, trailing only Thierry Henry and Olivier Giroud.