After a challenging season at Real Madrid, where fan support wavered for Kylian Mbappe, scrutiny over his behavior in the French national team is intensifying. The 26-year-old forward will captain Les Bleus in the World Cup for the first time, but doubts about his leadership are already surfacing.

Reports indicate that Real Madrid addressed concerns regarding Mbappe's conduct during the latter part of the season, which reportedly left his teammates at the Santiago Bernabeu disheartened. His commitment came into question when he withdrew from the El Clasico match against Barcelona after learning he would be benched, despite appearing fit to play.

Mbappe's recent actions have raised eyebrows within the France squad:

• He reportedly ignored teammate N'Golo Kante in the tunnel during a friendly.
• After a warm-up match against Northern Ireland, he departed the national camp early due to 'personal reasons' and was later seen with his girlfriend, Spanish actress Ester Exposito.

On the pitch, criticism from Ousmane Dembele, a Ballon d'Or winner and star of Paris Saint-Germain, has emerged regarding Mbappe's defensive work-rate, echoing sentiments heard in Spain.

As one of the favorites for the Golden Boot this summer, Mbappe carries the heavy burden of leading a talented French squad expected to compete fiercely for the World Cup trophy. With PSG's recent Champions League successes contrasting with Real Madrid's struggles, the pressure on him is mounting. Failure to perform at the World Cup could amplify the scrutiny surrounding his role in the team.