Kylian Mbappé is no longer the young prodigy; at 27, he is France’s established leader and captain. The latest international break has shown exactly why Les Bleus can dream of lifting the 2026 World Cup trophy.
In back-to-back friendlies on American soil, France dismantled two South American giants. They beat Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil 2-1 in Boston, with Mbappé scoring a brilliant opener to move within just one goal of Olivier Giroud’s all-time scoring record. Days later, they comfortably defeated Colombia 3-1, showcasing frightening depth even without their captain in the starting XI.
What makes this France side truly dangerous is an embarrassment of riches in attack. Ousmane Dembélé provided the clinical assist for Mbappé against Brazil, while the supporting cast took center stage against Colombia.
Hugo Ekitike finished with ice-cold composure, Michael Olise roamed freely as a playmaker, and Désiré Doué netted a brace, while Marcus Thuram finally ended his international goal drought.
Mbappé himself has noticed the upgrade. “There’s more talent and potential than in 2022,” he remarked. “We can really aim high with this team.”
No longer does France rely on a single focal point; the rotation of Dembélé, Olise, Cherki, Doué, Ekitike, and Thuram creates multiple threats that can overwhelm any defense. While questions remain over defensive fragility and Didier Deschamps’ final XI, the balance of quality and versatility is undeniable.
As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, one thing is clear: with Mbappé at the center of such an embarrassment of attacking riches, France are the team to beat once again.
