Kylian Mbappé sat down with Globoesporte ahead of France’s upcoming game against Brazil, and the Real Madrid forward did not hold back when discussing Neymar’s potential inclusion for the World Cup. The two shared a locker room at PSG and remain close.

Asked whether Brazil now belongs to Vinicius or is still Neymar’s team, Mbappé offered a balanced view. “I think it could be both. Vini now needs to take another step with the national team, but Neymar is Neymar. Neymar is a fantastic player. The World Cup is the competition of stars. All the stars are there, and for me Neymar is one of the biggest. I can’t imagine a World Cup without Neymar. But in the end, I can’t go against my former coach, Ancelotti. I have to respect his decision,” he said.

The French forward also made clear his belief that Neymar will be ready when it matters. “For me, Neymar is a player who makes the difference. I played with him, I learned a lot from him. We’ll have to see how he is physically. But I know Neymar – he’ll be ready, he’ll be there. I know him,” he added.

The friendly between the five-time world champions and France is one of the standout games of the international window, but Mbappé downplayed any sense of pressure on his side. “You can never be the favorite against a team with five stars on its jersey. Impossible. Brazil is the greatest footballing power. Five stars on the shirt, five World Cups – that’s history. For us, it’s an opportunity to play against Brazil, to show our quality, what we’re capable of, and to prepare to win the World Cup this summer,” said the striker.

Mbappé also reflected on the contrasting styles of his current national team coach and his former club manager. “What’s really great is that they are completely different, they have different visions of football. For me, as a player, it’s a golden opportunity because I get to see two different ways of winning, of understanding the game. It’s an honor to have Deschamps, and I was lucky to have Carlo for a year. I have the utmost respect and admiration for him as a coach,” he explained.

Finally, he addressed his relationship with Vinicius and their upcoming on-field rivalry. “We’re rivals, but there’s a lot of respect. These are big games, and we’re friends. On the field, there are no friends, but after the game, we’re all friends again and we laugh together,” he concluded.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.