Frank Leboeuf Critiques Mbappe Team Leadership Before 2026 World Cup
Frank Leboeuf put mbappe team leadership under the microscope ahead of the 2026 World Cup, saying Kylian Mbappe is not a leader for him because he is too selfish in his thoughts. The former France centre-back backed William Saliba, N'Golo Kante and Antoine Griezmann instead, sharpening a debate that sits right on France’s road to the tournament.
Leboeuf On Mbappe
"No, Kylian Mbappe is not a leader for me because he's too selfish in his thoughts, in the way he thinks," Leboeuf said when asked if Mbappe is the leader of the team. He also said, "Again, he's a great lad, well-educated, but his thinking, his way of thinking about football, doesn't align with my values of the game," and added, "Mbappé is a superstar, but he's not the best teammate in the world; that's my problem," in the same interview.
Mbappe is 27 years old and already won one World Cup as a 19-year-old, so the criticism lands on a player who has long been treated as the face of France’s attack. Leboeuf said he met him only once, when Mbappe was with the national team and had just signed for Paris Saint-Germain.
Saliba, Kante, Griezmann
Leboeuf named Saliba and Kante as the kinds of players he trusts in a leadership role because, in his words, they are ready to sacrifice for the team. He also called Griezmann a real leader in the way he was playing and thinking about football, which gives the criticism of Mbappe a clear comparison point rather than a vague complaint.
Leboeuf was part of France’s 1998 World Cup team, and he said it is hard to compare generations because football and refereeing are different. He also said France’s current side is offensively better than that squad, a nod to the talent level around Mbappe as the team heads toward 2026.
France Toward 2026
France is considered one of the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, which makes the captaincy and leadership conversation more pointed. Leboeuf’s comments do not change the squad, but they do add another public judgment on whether Mbappe’s game fits the leadership standard some former France players want before the tournament arrives.
