No player carries more expectation into World Cup 2026 than Kylian Mbappé. Already a world champion and a World Cup final hat-trick scorer, France’s captain is the face of the tournament.
The record
Mbappé burst onto the World Cup stage as a teenager in 2018, scoring in the final as France lifted the trophy. In 2022 he scored a stunning hat-trick in the final against Argentina — yet finished a runner-up. That unfinished business defines his 2026 ambition.
The role
Now the undisputed leader of the French side, Mbappé combines blistering pace, two-footed finishing and an increasingly mature link-up game. Whether deployed centrally or from the left, he is the focal point of France’s attack.
The expectation
With France among the favourites and Mbappé in his prime, anything short of a deep run will be seen as underachievement. If France go all the way, the Golden Boot and a second winner’s medal are well within reach.