Kylian Mbappé spoke with M6, the French television network broadcasting the tournament, just five days ahead of Les Bleus’ opening World Cup match. The Real Madrid forward emphasized that he would gladly trade individual accolades for a championship trophy, affirming he will do whatever it takes to lead France back to the final on July 19.

On his physical fitness and the team’s preparation: “Physically, I feel great. I’m incredibly happy to be here with the national team. This is a massive moment for us. We’ve really started to dial things in and our preparation has been solid. We know the road ahead will be grueling, but we are ready to compete and fight our way back to the final.”

On the mental grind of a World Cup: “Looking back at the two World Cups I’ve played in, there were definitely some dark moments. We all know that very few players can truly cut it at this level—it’s a reality you just have to accept. I truly believe that to make history, you have to suffer. We’ve already made history once, and now we want to do it again. But then again, every team arrives at a World Cup looking to write their own history.”

On whether he would trade scoring goals to lift the trophy: “In a heartbeat. I’d sign up for that right now. If it means we win, I’ll gladly be the first one leading the celebration on the Champs-Élysées.”

On entering his third World Cup as a veteran leader: “I’m thrilled to be playing in this tournament and to have the chance to help our younger players, especially when it comes to the emotional side of the game. Given the sheer quality of this squad, I’m obviously not here to teach my teammates how to play soccer. It’s all about knowing how to manage the pressure. Everyone needs to peak at the exact right moment because building a cohesive unit is no easy task.”

On drawing motivation from their 2018 triumph: “I know exactly how hard it is to win a World Cup. As the years pass, the real challenge is keeping that hunger and excitement completely intact. That drive is what carries you deep into a tournament.”

On dealing with the “favorites” tag: “Why should we suppress the players’ enthusiasm? A World Cup isn’t like a club tournament with two-legged knockout ties—here, one bad game sends you packing. You have to keep your emotions in check. That is the message I try to instill day in and day out. At the end of the day, we haven’t accomplished anything yet.”

On opening the tournament against Senegal: “Are they a tough opponent? Of course, this is the World Cup and they are the champions of Africa. Wait, I don’t know if it’s Senegal or Morocco we’re talking about (laughs). Either way, they are a fantastic team and it’s exciting to start against them. I know there is a lot of history between Senegal and France, which only adds fuel to the fire. It’s going to be a massive game in New York. Plus, it’s great for the kids back home—with a 9:00 p.m. kickoff, they can watch the whole match before bed. Starting like this is fun, but we need to eliminate any lingering doubts early and secure the win.”

On chasing the all-time World Cup scoring record: “It’s a neat feeling because I’m up there on the all-time scorers list, though I don’t know if it’s entirely fair since the other guys are much older than me (laughs). I’ve been fortunate enough to play in two World Cups, go on deep runs, and perform at a high level. Naturally, I want to keep rewriting the history books. But above all else, what I want most is to fly back to France with that trophy.”

On checking in with his former PSG teammates: “I made sure to congratulate my old PSG teammates right away. Honestly, it’s much easier to comfort just one teammate (William Saliba) who lost the Champions League final than it is to console five. What they achieved was incredible. I know firsthand how devastating it is to lose a Champions League final, so we all rallied around Saliba to lift his spirits. The locker room is in high spirits, and now our entire focus is locked on our main objective: the World Cup.”

On a potential redemption match against Argentina: “No, it’s not about revenge. Even if we win this World Cup, we won’t be back-to-back-to-back champions; we can’t alter the past. They beat us, and they fully deserved it. There is no obsession in this locker room with facing them again or settling a score. If our paths cross, we will give them everything we’ve got. But it’s not something we are actively dwelling on.”

On playing the tournament in the United States: “This is the absolute place to be right now. I’m coming to the United States to play, to truly embrace being a soccer player, and to earn respect and recognition as a team.”

His final message to French fans: “We are going to do everything in our power to make the people of France proud. We will give absolutely everything we have to reach that final and walk out onto the pitch on July 19.”

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