He’s One of the World Cup’s All-Time Greats. Why Is Kylian Mbappé So Unloved?

Few footballers have achieved as much as Kylian Mbappé at such a young age. A World Cup winner before turning 20, a World Cup Golden Boot recipient, and one of the most prolific scorers of his generation, Mbappé has already secured a place among football’s elite.

Yet despite his extraordinary accomplishments, he often seems to inspire less universal affection than many other global superstars. How can one of the game’s greatest talents also be one of its most polarizing figures?