In the 2022 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina, Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé nearly dragged the French national team to back-to-back trophies.
However, as Mbappé now enters his prime years, some will question whether Les Bleus will be too dependent on the 24-year-old now that he’s the captain and can put the team on his back.
Nonetheless, French manager Didier Deschamps put cold water on any belief that the squad will solely depend on the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner. Still, even if they do, Deschamps notes that Argentina and Portugal have relied heavily on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, respectively, and it’s worked out for them.
“Is the French team stronger with Kylian Mbappé? Yes, just as Argentina is stronger with Messi and Portugal with Ronaldo,” Deschamps told Le Parisien. “These extraordinary players make their team sublime.
“It’s been like that for as long as soccer has existed. After that, Kylian is part of a collective and knows full well that he needs the others.”
🇫🇷🗣️ Didier Deschamps sur une Mbappé dépendance : « L’équipe de France est-elle plus forte avec Kylian Mbappé ? Oui, comme l’Argentine l’est avec Messi et le Portugal avec Ronaldo. Ces joueurs hors norme subliment leur équipe. »
« C’est comme ça depuis que le football existe.… pic.twitter.com/X1hxiM83rD
— PSG COMMUNITY (@psgcommunity_) December 10, 2023
Deschamps is correct, as Argentina is the reigning Copa America and FIFA World Cup winner with Messi, and Portugal has won a UEFA Euro with Ronaldo. Mbappé and Co. will have a chance to win a Euro and avenge their performance in 2021 after they crashed out in the round of 16.
