Kylian Mbappé targets World Cup redemption after bruising season at Real Madrid | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé has turned to the World Cup after a second Real Madrid season without a major trophy, sealed by Wednesday’s 3-4 Champions League exit to Bayern Munich. He does not plan to drift to the finish.

According to L'Équipe, the France captain was shaken by the quarter-final in Munich, yet June and July are now his target. France open on 16 June against Senegal at MetLife Stadium.

The 27-year-old has 40 goals in 39 matches, with 36 starts and five assists. Neither Xabi Alonso nor Alvaro Arbeloa has questioned his impact.

Synergy with Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham has been inconsistent. In Munich, Mbappé failed to release Vinicius and apologised, then the Brazilian ignored Bellingham, who protested, and Vinicius told him to be quiet.

Madrid trail Barcelona by nine points with seven games left, and visit Camp Nou for a Clasico on 10 May. Mbappé relishes the fixture, with 12 goals in 10 meetings, but victory would be scant consolation.

He leads La Liga on 23 goals, two ahead of Mallorca forward Vedat Muriqi, though retaining the Pichichi would fall short of expectations set in summer 2024.

He has stayed in touch with Didier Deschamps and should be fit after a knee injury, and three fewer matches might suit the staff. He knows a French triumph on 19 July at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, would recast his season, mindful that Lionel Messi won the 2022 Ballon d’Or after winning only the World Cup and scoring twice in the final.

Source: L'Équipe