Despite delivering a third-place finish in the UEFA Nations League, French media is ablaze with claims of mounting unrest in the national team camp, as tensions reportedly escalate around star forward Kylian Mbappe.
France secured third place in the 2025 UEFA Nations League, with Kylian Mbappe playing a pivotal role, scoring a penalty against Spain in the semi-final and contributing another goal and an assist against Germany in the third-place match. On paper, his output was stellar: two goals and two assists across the final stages of the tournament. Yet, despite these numbers, the spotlight has shifted off the pitch — and into the locker room.
According to leading French journalist Romain Molina, “war is raging” within the Les Bleus camp. While French fans may have been focused on the scoreboard, internal tensions have been brewing behind closed doors.
The current France captain and new Real Madrid signing, Kylian Mbappe, is reportedly losing the dressing room. A number of teammates, per Molina, have grown tired of the 26-year-old’s behavior and leadership style, calling his professionalism into question. “It’s not just the attitude,” notes Molina, “the players are fed up. There could be war if things don’t improve.”
Support within the squad is reportedly shifting toward Ousmane Dembele, with some players feeling the PSG forward has earned the right to lead France’s attack. The 28-year-old has been excelling in a central role for his club, and this internal preference for him underscores the dissatisfaction with Mbappe’s performance and demeanor.
Hidden storm: Mbappe’s reportedly considered retiring?
Amid these rising tensions, a more startling revelation has come to light. According to the French journalist, Mbappe considered retiring from international soccer altogether. This came after he allegedly refused to participate in France’s November 2024 international break, despite being called up. While the French Football Federation did not confirm the incident, Molina claims the decision triggered deeper concerns about Mbappe’s long-term commitment.
This isn’t the first controversy surrounding the French star. The 26-year-old has previously skipped international duties, leading to speculation about a fractured relationship with head coach Didier Deschamps, who had appointed him captain following Hugo Lloris’ international retirement after the 2022 World Cup.
