Kylian Mbappe 'inspires respect' from team-mates as Real Madrid and France star named 'natural' leader by Barcelona's Jules Kounde

Mbappe has been hailed for his "natural" leadership qualities by his France team-mate and Clasico rival Kounde. The defender acknowledged the Real Madrid forward's humility as the captain of Les Bleus, stating that he's always present for his team-mates.

Mbappe was named France's full-time captain in March 2023, in light of Hugo Lloris' retirement from international football. In 2024, though, Mbappe was not selected for two consecutive international breaks, which gave rise to speculation that all was not well between Mbappe and the rest of the dressing room and coaching staff. However, those rumours were short-lived. Mbappe continues to be one of the pillars of the French side under Didier Deschamps as he eyes eight more goals to become France's all-time top scorer.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Kounde said: "I've always found that he does it quite naturally. He's very present for his teammates, very open to discussion, he shares responsibilities. Because of the player he is, he inspires respect and recognition from his teammates. It's quite natural for him."

The duo will be expected to start France's upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Deschamps' troops take on Ukraine on Friday, followed by an encounter against Iceland on September 10.