Miroslav Klose as Mbappe vows more defensive work before Senegal

Kylian Mbappe says he has to do more without the ball, and the France captain is taking that pledge into Tuesday’s World Cup opener against Senegal. The 27-year-old says he is ready to do whatever it takes for France to win at all costs.

“I need to take the extra step [with my defensive work] because it's something important for the team and I have to do it,” he said. “It will start this time because we want to win, and to win, I'm ready to do whatever because I want to win at all costs.”

Mbappe and Dembele

Ousmane Dembele said the criticism of Mbappe had gone “too far.” The France international has backed his captain as the scrutiny around his defensive numbers has grown, putting the spotlight on a part of his game that has been questioned even as he remains one of France’s decisive attackers.

Mbappe moved from Paris St-Germain to Real Madrid in 2024 and was La Liga's top scorer in his second season there. He has also been carrying the captaincy since 2023, when he took over from Hugo Lloris.

Real Madrid Numbers

The Opta data gives the criticism a harder edge. Mbappe ranked 1,350th out of 1,490 players in Europe's big five leagues for combined interceptions, blocks, tackles made and possession won, and his average of 0.14 tackles per 90 minutes was the fifth lowest in the rankings.

That profile sits alongside a productive scoring record. He had scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup matches before this tournament, including a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina, and one goal in this tournament would move him level with Olivier Giroud as France's all-time top scorer.

France Against Senegal

France open their campaign against Senegal on Tuesday, then face Iraq and Norway in the other group games. Mbappe’s public promise puts his off-ball work under the same spotlight as his finishing, and France will be judged on whether their captain matches words with movement when the group stage starts.