France captain Kylian Mbappe has thanked supporters for standing behind the national team after their World Cup campaign ended with a semi-final defeat to Spain. The Real Madrid forward said France fell short of another final but insisted the squad could still take pride in its effort throughout the tournament.
Mbappe posted a lengthy message on social media after France’s elimination. He thanked supporters for backing the team throughout the month-long competition.
“Thank you. It was a month full of emotion, where we pushed ourselves to our limits. It was a month of pride in wearing the France shirt and of the passion that drove us both on the pitch and in front of your screens and in the stands.”
The 27-year-old admitted the defeat still hurts. However, he said the players could not question their commitment.
“We didn’t win this title together. It hurts and it will hurt for some time. I won’t lie about that. Maybe you expected a better ending. But we cannot always choose how the story ends. We can choose what we put into it, and we gave everything.”
Mbappe also celebrated his teammates after finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals. He said the Golden Boot belonged to the whole squad rather than one player.
“Their hard work, their movement, their passes and the team spirit that carried us from the first match to the last made those goals possible.”
The France captain also reflected on his own World Cup journey. He said playing in three tournaments, winning one title and captaining his country represented achievements he would never forget.
Mbappe reserved special thanks for supporters who stayed up through the night to watch France play. He also acknowledged coach Didier Deschamps and every member of the backroom staff for their contribution during the campaign.
He finished on an optimistic note, saying football would always offer another opportunity.
“The World Cup is over. But the story continues. There will be more matches, more evenings together and the same desire to play. Thank you all for everything.”
