DistantNews
Support us
🇫🇷 France /Sports

Mbappé Leads French Player Ratings at World Cup; Defenders Shine, Fullbacks Lag

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • Kylian Mbappé was rated the best player for France at the 2026 World Cup, scoring ten goals and providing four assists.
  • Defenders Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba also received high marks.
  • Left-backs Lucas Digne and Théo Hernandez were rated lowest among the French players.

Kylian Mbappé has cemented his status as France's star player during the 2026 World Cup, earning the highest marks from Le Figaro's correspondents. Despite the team's semi-final exit, Mbappé's performance was exceptional, netting ten goals and contributing four assists throughout the tournament. His leadership was evident, fulfilling Didier Deschamps's assertion that the player was "on a mission."

While Mbappé shone, the defensive pairing of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba also received praise for their solid performances, placing them second and third in the individual player ratings. Their contributions were vital to the team's progress to the semi-finals.

Conversely, the team's left-backs, Lucas Digne and Théo Hernandez, were ranked at the bottom of the player evaluations. Their performances were deemed insufficient, marking a disappointing end to their World Cup campaign. The article provides a detailed breakdown of individual player performances, offering a critical look at the French squad's journey in the tournament.

Didier Deschamps had announced him "on a mission." He was.

— Le FigaroDescribing Kylian Mbappé's role and performance during the World Cup.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.