Mbappé: I understand the game at a deeper level now, and it's my brain that will extend my career

As the Ballon d'Or ceremony approaches on October 26, Mbappé, the star of the French national team and Real Madrid, shared reflections on his recent season and over a decade of extraordinary career achievements, encompassing experiences both on and off the pitch, in an exclusive interview with France Football. This is the first part of the interview.

You've been a professional footballer for over a decade now. Are you happy with who you are as a person and the player you've ultimately become?

I've gone through many different phases. I've changed positions, experienced different systems, and my playing style has evolved. I like this evolution because it shows that a great player can always adapt to his era.

Have we already seen Mbappé at his peak?

That's a difficult question to answer. If I say "yes," and then this season I'm even stronger than before, I'd be a liar. If I say "no," and then I perform worse... ultimately, the pitch is always the judge. People may prefer certain versions of me, and I may prefer other versions.

Which version do you prefer?

My playing career has gone through many different phases. I've played as a breakthrough winger on both flanks, as a deeper-lying winger, as a pure goalscorer, and as a more complete forward. When I was at Paris, I played more directly and unpredictably. Back then, I was truly dominant at what I did best, which made me a unique player.

Now, I understand tactical systems much better, different situations within a match, and how a match unfolds. What really helps extend your career is your brain. One day, your legs will start to decline, but understanding the game is something you must always prioritize.

So you're more complete now, but less unique than before?

I'm still a unique player. It's just that before, I only played one way and limited myself to that because I knew it was enough.

Now, I have many different "weapons." Whether in a single match or throughout an entire season, you can see different versions of me, with both success and failure, but this is the evolution I've sought.

Can a player approaching 30 years old continue to improve?

Yes, you can continue to improve throughout your career. It's also a form of intelligence to recognize that football, a sport that's constantly changing and evolving, demands it. Modern football is highly tactical, highly competitive, and coaches have more control over their teams than ever before. You have to adapt, because football doesn't wait for anyone.

Was Ronaldo an inspiration for you growing up?

Not just him. Cristiano was my idol when I was young. As a forward, you draw inspiration from many players. I try to learn what they do better than me.

Does Kylian Mbappé also draw inspiration from other players, or should you be an inspiration to others?

Both. I'm an inspiration to many players, and many players have inspired me. Sometimes, even players I don't consider as strong as myself can inspire me, because they might have something special in an area where I'm not as strong.

True intelligence is learning from these aspects, compensating for your weaknesses as much as possible, and maintaining the highest level for as many years as you can.

Which players in the current generation excite you?

I really don't want to name names, in case I leave someone out... If you pick the 10 to 15 best players in the world, I think everyone would have fairly similar opinions.

What about young players? Lamine Yamal has everything. I also really like Estêvão, he has special creativity.

At Real Madrid, Güler can reach a very high level. Endrick has huge potential; he's a goalscorer. Warren Zaire-Emery and Désiré Doué will certainly have brilliant careers.

Over the past decade, has any player ever made you feel intimidated?

When your goal is to pursue excellence, you can't be afraid. I've always wanted to face the best players because every time I step onto the pitch, I'm confident telling myself: no one is better than me.

You've become the highest World Cup goalscorer in history with 22 goals, the highest scorer for the French national team with 66 goals, the all-time leading scorer for Paris Saint-Germain with 256 goals, and you won the World Cup in 2018... Of all these achievements, which makes you most proud?

In the short term, of course, it's the trophies, because trophies are what ultimately remain in people's collective memory. But for someone like me, who has experienced all of this very intensely firsthand, I would choose the journey itself.

Because I always knew where I wanted to go and how to get there. Even during difficult times, I remained steadfast on my path.

Over the past decade, you've become France's most famous person in the world. Do you feel more proud about this, or do you see it as a burden?

I feel a mix of many emotions. It depends on the stage of your life, your state of mind at that moment, and who you are at that time. You can never reject the love people have for you. When you become a country's most famous person, it means there are still many people supporting and cheering for you. That's a privilege, although sometimes this attention can feel heavy, even suffocating. But it's my responsibility, and I fully accept it.

Everything you do, both on and off the pitch, is monitored, analyzed, and sometimes criticized. How do you deal with all of this?

I receive a lot of criticism. My stance on criticism is very clear. There's constructive criticism, and then there's criticism that's quite ridiculous. I have no problem with that. When I need to make a decision, I won't be frightened by these things. If I know a decision is right for me, I'll move forward. My past experience has proven this.

As you've gotten older, have you also come to accept that you're destined to be a controversial figure?

I don't think "controversial" is the right word. The higher you stand, the less likely it is that everyone will agree with you. Put simply, the odds of people not liking you also increase.

If I really wanted everyone to like me, I wouldn't leave home. As time passes and you get older and more experienced, these things affect you less and less.

I've learned to accept that some people disagree with my viewpoints or values.

Website AF đã ra mắt! Xem tin tức đầy đủ, bình luận, chi tiết trận đấu và thống kê trên máy tính. Truy cập: www.allfootballapp.com