The longstanding tension between French football icon Kylian Mbappé and the Rassemblement National (RN) reached a new peak this week following the player’s outspoken interview with Vanity Fair magazine.
In the interview, 27-year-old Mbappé reiterated his concerned about the “consequences” for France should the RN win the 2027 presidential election and said, “We have to fight this idea that a footballer should just play and keep quiet.”
The Real Madrid star characterized the party’s previous electoral gains as catastrophic and insisted on his right, as a citizen, to mobilize against what he views as a divisive force.
RN leaders Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen dismissed the striker’s statements as lectures from a wealthy elite disconnected from the daily economic and security struggles of the French people.
RN spokesmen argued that as the captain of Les Bleus, Mbappé has a duty to represent the entire nation—including the millions who vote for the RN—rather than acting as a partisan activist.
To punctuate their critique, Bardella leveled a sarcastic jab at the star’s recent career path, noting that Paris Saint-Germain only secured its historic Champions League title in 2025 after Mbappé’s departure.
