Kylian Mbappé, the French star now playing for Real Madrid, has been omitted from the French national soccer team for the second consecutive month.
ESPN reported on Thursday that Didier Deschamps, France’s head coach, confirmed Mbappé’s exclusion from the roster for this month’s international fixtures. This marks the second straight month that the 24-year-old striker, widely regarded as one of the best in the world, has been left out of the squad, raising questions within the soccer community. France is scheduled to face Israel on November 15 and Italy on November 18 in UEFA Nations League matchups.
The reason behind Mbappé’s absence is a combination of injury and a dip in form. The Real Madrid forward sustained a thigh injury in late September. Although he returned to action just before the international break, Deschamps opted against calling him up for the upcoming matches, citing concerns over potential risks. Since his return, Mbappé has been playing regularly but has struggled to find his top form. He has scored only once in the six matches he has played since October.
Deschamps explained, “This decision was made after discussions with Mbappé. It’s a one-off decision not to include him this time. Mbappé really wanted to be part of the squad.”
Mbappé, who dominated Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain and won the French league’s Golden Boot six times in a row, made a high-profile move to Real Madrid this season. The forward has scored 8 goals in 15 appearances so far this season. Mbappé also won the Golden Boot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, leading France to a runner-up finish.