Overview
- Kylian Mbappé published a long open letter on Monday that said the team's fourth-place finish 'does hurt and will hurt for some time' and thanked fans for their support.
- He acknowledged winning the tournament Golden Boot and being reported as the World Cup's all-time top scorer while saying those honours meant less without a collective title.
- Mbappé credited teammates and backroom staff for his goals and explicitly thanked coach Didier Deschamps, noting he had already spoken to him privately.
- The letter arrives about two weeks after France were eliminated by Spain and follows Deschamps's decision to leave the national team after the third-place match with England.
- Mbappé framed the message as a point of reflection on his World Cup arc—2018 winner, 2022 runner-up, 2026 fourth place—and positioned himself as committed to the team's future.