Aboutrika slams Mbappé: 'Provoke opponents with goals, not words'

Mohamed Aboutrika, the former Egyptian football star, did not hold back his criticism after France's narrow 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking on beIN Sports, Aboutrika declared the match "the worst game of the World Cup," lamenting the scarcity of significant scoring opportunities and the high number of fouls. He noted the extended stoppage time added in both halves, totaling 16 minutes, and a three-minute water break, suggesting the game was disjointed.

The former player then turned his attention to French sensation Kylian Mbappé, delivering a pointed message. "If you want to provoke the opponent, score three goals because he is technically inferior to you. Provoke the opponent with goals, not words," Aboutrika advised. He implied that Mbappé's on-field antics were less impactful than his potential to score.

Aboutrika also touched upon the controversial red card rule involving touching the lips, calling it "the best rule ever made" because it prevents players from provoking opponents. He concluded by differentiating between discussing one's own national team, where words carry more weight, and discussing others.