Former Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o has said Kylian Mbappe is not appreciated in France to the same extent as other football greats despite his remarkable achievements for the national team.
Mbappe is spearheading France’s bid for a second FIFA World Cup title in eight years and has scored eight goals at the ongoing tournament to share the Golden Boot lead with Lionel Messi.
The 27-year-old has now scored 20 World Cup goals since making his tournament debut in 2018, four more than any other player during that period. Only Messi, with 21, has scored more World Cup goals overall.
Despite those achievements, Eto’o believes Mbappe continues to face greater scrutiny than many of France’s football legends.
“He simply deserves to be judged with the same fairness as other great champions, and perhaps it’s time for France to fully appreciate how fortunate it is to have a player of such stature in its history,” Eto’o told Le Parisien.
“But despite his performances, his records, his list of achievements, and his consistency, he seems to constantly have to prove himself again.
“What more does Kylian Mbappe have to accomplish to be fully recognised as the best French player of his generation, or even as one of the greatest French players in history?”
Eto’o also suggested that Mbappe’s heritage and outspoken views may influence how he is perceived.
“It’s legitimate to ask a question, even if it’s uncomfortable: Do Kylian’s mixed heritage, his origins, and what he represents in French society influence, consciously or unconsciously, how some people judge his career, his personality, and his stances?
“This question deserves to be asked responsibly, not to make unfounded accusations, but because racism, prejudice, and bias still exist in our societies and should never be normalised.”
Mbappe will look to inspire France to another World Cup final when they face Spain in Tuesday’s semi-final in Dallas.
The Real Madrid forward has scored 12 goals in World Cup knockout matches—the highest tally by any player—but is yet to score in either of his previous two World Cup semi-final appearances.
