Kylian Mbappe Admits Past Mistakes As French Captain

Kylian Mbappe will return to captaining France against Croatia in the UEFA Nations League (Instagram/@equipedefrance).

JAKARTA - Kylian Mbappe returned to lead France against Croatia on Friday, March 21, 2025, early morning WIB, after six months of absence and criticized himself for the way he handled the previous captain's position.

The Real Madrid star captained Les Bleus in Split in the first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with the second leg on Monday, March 24, 2025, at the Stade de France.

This will be his first appearance for France since losing 1-3 to Italy on September 6, 2024. Mbappe said he did not handle the situation well at that time when he appeared at the Parc des Princes, home to his former Paris Saint-Germain club.

"I'm well aware enough to know what I'm doing well and what I'm not doing well."

"I know people aren't happy with what I'm doing on and off the pitch. I'm not doing well,"

"I have no problem questioning myself. I have never had a problem with criticism if criticism is appropriate and reasonable," Mbappe told a news conference.

In September 2024, Mbappe performed poorly in Madrid and the French National Team, but he retaliated and said that people's opinions about him were the least thing he was worried about.

He also said he didn't care about the welcome he would get when playing again at PSG stadium after leaving him for months, experiencing intense tensions with the club hierarchy and fans.

Six months later, he admitted that some of the criticisms directed at him at that time were valid.

"I didn't play well against Italy. In a press conference (before the game), I didn't please people because as a captain who doesn't bring people together."

"I accept it, but now the most important thing is to keep going and not repeat the same mistakes," Mbappe said.

The 26-year-old is third on France's all-time goalscorer list with 48 goals, but he has only scored in two of his last 12 international games.

There are doubts as to whether Mbappe will defend his captainship, but he did so after discussions with coach Didier Deschamps.

Meanwhile, Mbappe did not participate in the UEFA Nations League match against Israel and Italy in November 2024, when Deschamps said it was better that way given Mbappe's physical and mental struggles.

Mbappe was also absent from the previous meeting due to a minor thigh injury. However, he continued to play for Real Madrid, angering many French fans and raising questions about priorities between clubs and the country.

After a difficult start in his career at Real Madrid, Mbappe has now scored a goal freely and has scored 31 goals in 44 games this season.

"I feel good, I feel happy playing football. I'm happy to be here to help the team (France)," said Mbappe.

Mbappe is only under Thierry Henry (51 goals) and Olivier Giroud (57) on the list of goalscorers in the French National Team.

Mbappe will reunite in attack with PSG striker Ousmane Dembele, Ligue 1's top scorer.

The two have scored a total of 30 goals this season, but while Mbappe has done so for the seventh time in a row, the newly productive Dembele has managed to do so for the first time.

"He is a good addition to us. When you look at his current performances, it gives us more choices. That makes us even more unexpected to the opponent," Mbappe said of Dembele.

He enjoyed the prospect of facing Croatia together.

"We just need to work well together. However, we know each other and we want to play together," said Mbappe.

Dembele still has to catch up, scoring just six international goals in 53 games.