“Mbappé opens up about racism and a moment of despair in the national team.”

Kylian Mbappé opens up and reveals shocking episode of racism that almost made him leave the French national team

In a gripping testimony, Kylian Mbappé, star of Real Madrid and one of the biggest phenomena in world football, revealed a dark moment in his career that few knew about. During an appearance on “The Bridge Show,” alongside friend and national teammate Achraf Hakimi, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and comedian Malik Bentalha, the French forward did not hide the pain and anger he felt in 2021 when he suffered violent racist attacks following a decisive moment in Euro 2020.

“I wanted to give up on the French national team. I realized that I had put France very, very high on my priorities, but as soon as I missed the penalty, a lot of people started insulting me and calling me a monkey. And I asked myself: are these the people I fight for on the field?” Mbappé vented, recalling the fateful missed penalty against Switzerland in the round of 16 of the European competition. This moment marked a turning point in his relationship with the pressure and extreme expectations placed upon him.

The psychological impact was brutal. “I went on vacation and felt like a zombie. I fell from a great height because my first tournament for France was the 2018 World Cup, I won it, I was a kind of national hero, I was very young. And in the next tournament, that gets thrown in your face. It’s hard,” confessed the star, exposing the vulnerability behind the image of success and invincibility.

Despite the emotional weight of his account, Mbappé did not lose his sense of humor: while commenting on his recent driver’s license, he admitted that he still feels nervous behind the wheel. “He paid,” Tchouaméni quipped, eliciting laughter from the group and relieving the tension with a note of camaraderie.

Regarding the constant interviews, the forward did not hold back in his criticism of the press. “I’m tired of interviews. The journalist is there to make you say what you don’t want to say, and you don’t want to say what they want you to say. It’s like a boxing match,” he stated, expressing his frustration with the media environment surrounding him.

This outburst from Mbappé sheds light on the emotional and social challenges that even the greatest talents face, reminding us that racism and prejudice continue to be open wounds in football and society. The player’s courage in sharing this sensitive experience is an important step in the fight against these injustices and a call for reflection for all sports and social justice enthusiasts.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.