CORNERFLICK
Samuel Eto'o has defended Kylian Mbappé, saying the France captain is still not receiving the credit his performances deserve.
The Cameroon legend, who also serves as president of the country’s football federation, argued that Mbappé should be measured by the same standards applied to football’s biggest names. He said French football should better recognise the value of having a player of Mbappé’s quality and standing.
Mbappé has been one of the stand-out players at the 2026 World Cup, scoring eight goals to help France reach the semi-finals. He is level with Lionel Messi at the top of the tournament scoring chart and remains central to France’s hopes of reaching the final and winning the title.
Eto'o also said the 27-year-old continues to face scrutiny despite his records, honours and consistency over recent years. He called that unfair and said Mbappé is already among the best players of his generation and one of the greatest in French football history.
He then raised a broader issue, asking whether Mbappé’s family background and multicultural roots may shape how some people view him. Eto'o stressed that the point was not to accuse anyone, but to acknowledge that prejudice and discrimination still exist and need challenging.