Kylian Mbappe said angrily: “I have to play until I’m 80 years old to satisfy all my critics.”
After scoring a brace to help France beat Senegal 3-1 in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup, Kylian Mbappe delivered a powerful response to his critics.
Kylian Mbappe’s performance was undeniably convincing after a period of constant criticism from both his club and national team. In the opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Senegal on June 17th, the French captain had a rather lackluster first half, touching the ball only 14 times – the lowest number on the field. However, everything changed completely after halftime.
Mbappe exploded with a superb brace, including a spectacular long-range goal in injury time, contributing significantly to Les Bleus’ 3-1 victory and a strong start on their journey to conquer the World Cup.
It’s worth noting that this performance came under immense pressure for Mbappe. At Real Madrid, he was booed by a section of fans who blamed him for the team’s trophyless season. There were even petitions demanding the club part ways with the French star.
At the national team level, Mbappe has also faced considerable criticism for his performance, leadership, and rumors of internal conflicts in the dressing room. However, the 27-year-old striker insists he has no intention of proving anything to his detractors.
“There is no such thing as revenge. If I started playing just to silence all my critics, I would probably be playing until I’m 80. I play to make history for my country and help the national team reach the final and win the World Cup,” Mbappe declared.
Mbappe sends a message to his critics after scoring two goals on the opening day of the 2026 World Cup (Photo: SunSport)
Mbappe’s statement quickly garnered attention on social media due to its frankness and confidence. For the French striker, the best response is always a performance on the pitch.
His brace against Senegal also brought his World Cup total to 14 goals. He is now only two goals short of the all-time scoring record held by Miroslav Klose and Messi, and has a real chance of equaling or surpassing it in this year’s tournament. Furthermore, Mbappe officially surpassed Olivier Giroud to become the greatest goalscorer in French national team history with 58 goals.
“I am very happy to continue making history for my country. That has always been what I wanted to do. I always put that above everything else. Later, when I retire, I will have time to think about records. But right now, I know exactly why I am here. We will continue to try to write great chapters in the history of the French national team,” Mbappe shared.
While many still debate his leadership role, his teammates showered him with praise. William Saliba called Mbappe’s second goal a “crazy masterpiece,” while Bradley Barcola believes the captain is fully capable of breaking the World Cup scoring record in the near future.
With his current form, perhaps Mbappe doesn’t need to wait until he’s 80 to silence his critics. He’s doing it right now on the pitch at the 2026 World Cup.
