"Kylian, Forgive Us"... Fans Apologize to Star Performer Mbappe

Over 69,000 French Fans Sign Petition
Criticism and Mockery Withdrawn... Declaration of Repentance
Chasing Messi by Just One Goal with 19 Career World Cup Goals

French football fans have belatedly begun to issue 'apologies' to national team captain Kylian Mbappe, who is performing brilliantly at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. A unique petition has appeared, gathering a surge of signatures, in which fans are pledging to retract the criticism they had previously directed at Mbappe.

On the 7th (local time), French national football team player Kylian Mbappe training in Massachusetts, USA. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News Agency on the 6th, a petition titled "Kylian, forgive us" was recently posted on a French petition site, and by this day, more than 69,000 people had signed it. The author of the petition, Frederic Coffe, 42, wrote in the introduction, "France has behaved wrongly. We doubted, criticized, and were ungrateful. Now it is time to set things right."

Participants select from 18 example statements the type of criticism they directed at Mbappe to self-assess their 'national shame index.' These include statements such as "Kylian doesn't even run," "His transfer fee is far too high," "He neglects the national team," "His hairstyle is terrible," and "He's past his prime." After making their selections, participants must sign a declaration stating, "As a citizen of the Republic, I admit I doubted Kylian Mbappe, the pride of our country and a football genius. I solemnly withdraw all malicious remarks and sincerely apologize to him."

The petition has formalized this 'repentance.' Each signature and apology is entered into a so-called 'national pardon ledger,' which will be delivered to Mbappe and permanently preserved online. There are also 'rewards' based on the number of signatories. If the number surpasses 25,000, a humor site calling itself the 'French Defeat Federation' will award a 'national shame trophy.' If it reaches 1 million, Zinedine Zidane will present a 'national pardon certificate.' If the nationwide total of 67 million is achieved, all French people will, by law, adopt 'Kylian' as their middle name.

After spending seven seasons from 2017 to 2024 with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Mbappe transferred to Spain's Real Madrid—a club he had admired since childhood—causing considerable feelings of betrayal among French fans. After his departure, PSG went on to win back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles, which only intensified the mockery. Ahead of the World Cup, Mbappe himself told Le Parisien, a French daily, "I'm already hated enough."

A petition site apologizing for criticism of Mbappe. Pardonkylian

Coffe, who began this petition, also admitted that he had viewed Mbappe unfavorably before the World Cup. In an interview with the French media outlet Orange, he recalled the moment of Mbappe's first goal against Senegal, saying, "I wrapped the ball in my hands and said, 'I'm sorry, Kylian.'"

With his dazzling performances this tournament, Mbappe has silenced much of the criticism from French fans. In the round of 32, France defeated Sweden 3-0 thanks to Mbappe's brace, and on the 4th, in the round of 16 against Paraguay, he calmly converted a penalty to secure a 1-0 victory, overcoming intense marking and controversial refereeing to clinch a quarter-final spot.

With this goal, his seventh of the tournament, Mbappe increased his career World Cup tally to 19, closing to within one goal of Argentina's Lionel Messi, who holds the record at 20. France, considered a strong favorite to win, will face Morocco in the quarter-finals on July 9.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.