Kylian Mbappe Reveals Retirement Stance After Lionel Messi Comment
Kylian Mbappe has never been one to shy away from the biggest moments. From lifting a World Cup as a teenager to carrying France's hopes as captain, Mbappe's career has already been defined by chasing history. But as he continues his 2026 FIFA World Cup journey, the French star has set the record straight on his future in soccer.
The topic of longevity has been trending after Lionel Messi's stellar performance against Algeria in Group J. The Argentine proved age is just a number after scoring and becoming the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup at age 38. He will be turning a year older this Wednesday. Meanwhile, his rival Cristiano Ronaldo is leading Portugal at 41 years old.
Both men are currently competing in their sixth World Cup. While Mbappe is also highly regarded by many for his talents, he doesn't see the same path for himself. "I won't be here when I turn 40; they'll have kicked me out before then," the France captain said to Marca while using Messi as an example.
Mbappe further added, "I don't make future plans; I only think about the present moment, about enjoying the World Cup." His strong stance on not playing at the biggest stage until age 40 suggests his plans to retire from international soccer much earlier. Mbappe has already made a name for himself in the history books.
He is France's all-time leading goalscorer with 58 goals. The 27-year-old is only two World Cup goals away from tying Messi and Miroslav Klose as the tournament's top scorers of all time. Mbappe's comments also come after praising Messi and Ronaldo. The French forward has long admired Ronaldo and has previously spoken about the Portuguese legend's influence on his career.
Meanwhile, Mbappe has shared the same locker room with Messi at Paris Saint-Germain. "Messi is the best player, along with Cristiano, that's clear," he said about the two icons. While both Messi and Ronaldo struggled to make an impact at the World Cup during their early years, it has been different for the French captain.
Mbappe won the World Cup in his very first attempt at age 18. He took France to the final once again in 2022, also scoring a hat-trick in the final. However, Messi and Argentina managed to escape with a win on penalties. Now, during his third World Cup, France are once again regarded as favorites to win.
Mbappe has already made a huge impact for the French side. If he doesn't wish to replicate the path of Messi and Ronaldo by playing until the age of 40, it won't make much difference, as the Real Madrid star has already made a name for himself.
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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 9:17 AM.