Following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, France captain Kylian Mbappe addressed the nation through an emotional open letter titled "Merci", expressing his deep gratitude to supporters for standing by the team throughout the tournament.
// Related stories
Enjoyed this article?
Get more compelling stories delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter for free!
Subscribe Sekarang →According to the Real Madrid forward, the campaign was defined by a month of intense emotion, pride, and shared passion between the players on the pitch and the fans in the stands and in front of screens.
Reflecting on the team's painful exit against Spain in the semi-finals and their defeat to England in the third-place play-off, Mbappe admitted, "We do not bring back a collective trophy. It hurts and it will still hurt for a while, I am not going to lie to you about that."
Despite finishing the tournament as the top scorer, the star striker insisted that individual accolades pale in comparison to team success, stating, "The top scorer title, I take it with pride, but it would have been so much better with the Cup as well."
Mbappe also took the opportunity to express his appreciation for his teammates, head manager Didier Deschamps, his backroom staff, and everyone who supported the French delegation during their time in the United States.
Looking ahead to the horizon, the prolific attacker concluded his heartfelt message with a firm promise to the supporters, declaring with absolute conviction, "We are not finished playing together."
With sights now firmly set on the 2030 tournament, the French talisman prepares to lead a hungry new generation of Les Bleus back to international glory.