'An unworthy captain' – Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappe savaged by World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit after France's forgettable showing at Euro 2024

The 25-year-old forward, who captured a global crown himself in 2018 before netting a hat-trick in the Qatar 2022 final, now fills the armband for his country. That responsibility was passed his way in the wake of Hugo Lloris’ international retirement.

Mbappe is one of the most exciting talents on the planet and will be taking that skill set to Spain after severing ties with Paris Saint-Germain as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer. He did, however, struggle for a spark on European Championship duty.

A broken nose suffered in France’s tournament opener against Austria did his cause few favours, as he had to be fitted with a protective mask, but Mbappe registered just one goal from the penalty spot before seeing Les Bleus crash out in the semi-finals against Spain.

Petit, who savoured World Cup glory in 1998, has told RMC Sport of why Mbappe is not a suitable leader: “For me he is not a good captain with the signals he has sent since this almost forced takeover. In his leadership, his statements to his colleagues too, when he says 'I don't have good passes, no [Paul] Pogba in my team, [Antoine] Griezmann is not having a good Euro...' Is it the role of a captain to point out the shortcomings of his team-mates? He has not been good in that. And then excuse me, but all the fuss about the mask or not after his broken nose. We don't care! You're not the first to play with a broken nose, you won't be the last. After that, it's not his fault. But where I have trouble is that he claimed a lot of things to get this armband, and for me he didn't have the leadership on the field or off it. At no time did I see him harangue his team-mates.”

Petit went on to say of suggestions that Mbappe was lacking in match fitness and sharpness: “When you play one match out of two with PSG in the last six months, you have plenty of time to prepare yourself physically. But I remember his statements before the Euro, where he said 'I care more about my mental strength than my physical strength'. But mentally you were lacking, physically you were lacking, and in your role as captain, you were lacking. For me, he was an unworthy captain.”

Mbappe is now looking forward to his official unveiling at Real Madrid before opening a new chapter with the Blancos in 2024-25. He will not be back in action with his country until opening another UEFA Nations League campaign against Italy on September 6.