Overview
- Speaking on The Bridge podcast hosted by Aurélien Tchouaméni, Kylian Mbappé said he considered leaving the national team after his Euro 2020 penalty miss drew a wave of racist abuse.
- He recounted being called "a monkey" and said the attacks left him numb for days, describing himself as "a walking dead man" while on vacation.
- Mbappé said he told then–French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët he would not return to Les Bleus, and that Le Graët pressed him to stay.
- He remained with France, scored three goals in the 2022 World Cup final, and later became captain as he rebuilt his relationship with the team.
- His first‑person account adds urgency to calls in football for tougher measures to deter and punish racist abuse of players.