7M - Deschamps Defends Mbappe Against Online Dictator Labels

Following France's 1-0 victory against Paraguay in the Round of 16, manager Didier Deschamps strongly defended his captain, Kylian Mbappe, against social media criticism labeling him a dictator. Detractors have frequently claimed that the forward holds excessive influence within the national squad and at Real Madrid. However, Deschamps dismissed these online narratives, asserting that Mbappes public image contradicts the truth and that he is incredibly pleased with the player's leadership.

On the pitch, Mbappe has delivered stellar performances at the 2026 World Cup, netting seven goals in five matches to guide France to the quarter-finals. His decisive penalty against Paraguay brought his career World Cup total to 19 goals, putting him just one behind Lionel Messi's all-time record. Notably, 11 of those goals were scored in knockout rounds. Interestingly, both Mbappe and Messi lead the 2026 Golden Boot race while also walking for the highest percentage of their total time on the pitch, with Mbappe walking for 45 percent of his tournament appearance and Messi at 47 percent. Under Deschamps guidance, France has now reached the World Cup quarter-finals for a fourth consecutive time, a feat they had accomplished only five times previously in their entire football history.