Following Jordan Bardella, it is Marine Le Pen's turn to directly attack Kylian Mbappé after his stance against the National Rally. This Wednesday, May 13, several prominent figures from the party appeared on a series of television programs to criticize the French national team striker.

His activism is shaking up the political establishment. Just weeks before the 2026 World Cup and several months before the presidential election, Kylian Mbappé has once again taken a stand against the National Rally and political extremists in a lengthy interview with Vanity Fair. The French national team striker expressed particular concern about "what could happen to his country if these people come to power."

A powerful statement that sparked numerous reactions, even prompting Jordan Bardella to respond with an irrelevant mockery. But the National Rally leader isn't the only one reacting. Now, an entire political spectrum is attacking the French national team star, starting with Marine Le Pen.

"When he says we're not going to win the elections, it reassures me because he left PSG for Real Madrid saying it was to win the Champions League. In the meantime, PSG won," she said to RTL, while she is still considered ineligible to run for president, pending the decision on her appeal in the case of misappropriation of public funds, which will be delivered on Tuesday, July 7.

"All in all, when he says: 'I don't want the RN to win the elections' or 'The RN is not going to win the elections', let him continue, that suits me very well," added the elected representative of the 11th constituency of Pas-de-Calais, visibly annoyed by the situation.

"It's a problem that the captain of the French national team has become a political activist."

Leading by a wide margin in the first-round presidential election polls, the National Rally is determined not to let this direct criticism from the Real Madrid player go unchallenged. To the point of demanding that he no longer be captain of the French national team? "He can take a stand," countered Marine Le Pen. "People who love football are still quite free to decide who they want to vote for without being influenced by Mr. Mbappé."

On Wednesday, May 13, party lieutenants also appeared on a series of television programs to discuss the issue. "We don't usually discriminate against people," Sébastien Chenu responded on TF1 regarding a potential refusal to welcome the French national team player to the Élysée Palace should the National Rally (RN) win the election. "Kylian Mbappé wanted to venture into unfamiliar territory. He took a bit of a dig from Jordan Bardella; he should take it with irony and humor."

On the CNews set, Julien Odoul was more aggressive. "He has a responsibility since he must represent millions of French people. There's a problem with the captain of the French national team becoming a political activist who speaks out and uses his platform to give his political opinion," the spokesperson for the party with the flame logo insisted. "He has the right, like any citizen, to have opinions and preferences. But as captain, he still needs to show a minimum of restraint."

Attacked for his sporting performance rather than his beliefs, Kylian Mbappé seems to have stirred up a bit of a stir in the political sphere. Once again, athletes and other public figures will have a crucial role to play in the coming months. Mbappé, for his part, is known for his activism, and that doesn't appear likely to change anytime soon.