Kylian Mbappé considered retirement from national team following Euro 2021

Kylian Mbappé recently disclosed that he contemplated retiring from the French national football team following the 2021 UEFA European Championship. After missing a penalty kick during the tournament match against Switzerland, which resulted in France's elimination, the forward faced significant public criticism. Mbappé reported receiving racist abuse from compatriots, which deeply affected his mental well-being. He explicitly informed the president of the French Football Federation of his desire to quit, but the request was denied. Mbappé described the period immediately following the tournament as emotionally devastating. Furthermore, he expressed general dissatisfaction with media interviews and acknowledged criticisms regarding his defensive contributions on the pitch. The player currently competes for Real Madrid.