It’s incredibly satisfying to discover you were completely wrong about someone, especially when your initial impression was negative. This recently happened with me and French footballer Kylian Mbappé, after I read this exemplary interview.
Let me preface this by saying I’m not a fan of football, both watching and playing. The excessive commercialism and hero-worship surrounding some players, who often seem like arrogant and thuggish individuals, are particularly off-putting to me. However, personal circumstances led me to follow the World Cup closely three years ago, which is how I first encountered Mbappé. He appeared humble, well-mannered, and an average French young man from an immigrant background. Growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood within the notorious Seine-Saint-Denis department, he seemed worlds apart from individuals like Benzema, who are perceived as anti-French and troublesome.
However, over the past year, a couple of incidents made me question if Mbappé was just another individual exploiting France for personal gain. Following the tragic murder of teacher Samuel Paty by an Islamist, several French national team members participated in a video promoting respect for the education system. Notably, none of the Muslim players participated, including Mbappé. This absence even sparked speculation about his potential conversion to Islam, despite being raised Christian. Shortly after, I learned he had gifted a signed shirt to an Islamist Russian MMA fighter who had called for violence against Charlie Hebdo and its supporters. While it’s possible Mbappé was unaware of the fighter’s extremist views, it raised red flags for me. This situation also highlighted the hypocrisy of considering Putin a defender of Christianity, given his alliances with Chechen Islamists and his lack of support for Christian Armenians against Azerbaijan.
Therefore, reading the aforementioned interview filled me with joy. Mbappé is an icon for many French youths, especially those from immigrant backgrounds living in underprivileged areas. These young people, particularly those of non-French descent, are constantly bombarded with anti-French propaganda from leftist, Islamist, and indigenous rights groups. They are told to despise France for its past and present, identify solely with their ancestral culture, and reject assimilation. Mbappé’s statements in the interview are significant because they directly contradict this narrative. While others like Patrice Quarteron have expressed similar sentiments, they lack his widespread influence.
Here are some excerpts from the interview:
Q: Are you very attached to France?
A: Absolutely. I was born in France, I grew up in France, France has given everything to me. And I try to give back, every time I play with the national team. I think that my love for France doesn’t need to be proved. Playing for France is above all else.
Q: Let’s talk about your origins (Cameroonian and Algerian). Is identity a concern for you?
A: No. But I can understand why you’re asking me about this. For me, it’s always been clear: I was born in France, my parents are French, I grew up in France. I’m 100% French. Of course, I’m very proud of my origins because they’re part of my history, my roots. But me, my country, it’s France.
Q: You often talk about “the New France.” Do you define yourself as Black or Arab?
A: Not at all. For me, saying you’re Black, Arab, or white creates a wall, and in this new France, there are no walls, we’re all together.
Q: However, there are strong tensions surrounding this issue…
A: We shouldn’t see France as darker than it is! Of course, I think there are problems in this country, but I swear to you, as someone lucky enough to travel a lot, that this is a very good country.
Q: Your parents enrolled you in a private, Catholic school. Are you religious?
A: I’m a believer but not a practitioner. This school was chosen because it was calm and provided the environment I needed. I was a turbulent, hyperactive child.
Q: Your love for France, does it come from your parents?
A: I was always raised with this sense of gratitude towards France because France does things for others, and for me and my parents, it has given us a lot. Therefore, you have to be proud of your country. Americans are proud to be American. Why shouldn’t French people be proud to be French?
The interview appeared in a “progressive” publication, so I imagine the journalist leaned left politically. The questions were repetitive and almost accusatory, as if the journalist expected the typical narrative of “France is evil, France is racist.” Mbappé’s unexpected responses, affirming his French identity and patriotism, likely frustrated the journalist, who kept pushing for a different answer. It’s almost possible to sense the journalist’s disappointment as Mbappé consistently provided refreshingly positive answers.
Another crucial point is Mbappé’s attendance at a Catholic school. Had he attended a public school in Seine-Saint-Denis, where most teachers lean left and the student body is predominantly Muslim, he might have developed into a very different person, perhaps more aligned with someone like Benzema.