- 31
- Dec.
- 2024
2024 tested Kylian Mbappé like never before. Between a disappointing Euro constrained by physical issues, a turbulent start at Real Madrid, and off-field controversies, the year for the captain of the French national team was marked by challenges at every turn.
2024 will likely be remembered as one of the most challenging years of Kylian Mbappé's career. Between thwarted ambitions at the Euro, debilitating injuries, and media pressures, the French captain endured a mixed season. Here's a look back at a year filled with ups and downs for the star forward of Real Madrid.
A Euro to Forget
Before the start of Euro 2024, Kylian Mbappé was brimming with confidence. “I want to make history in this tournament,” he had declared. But fate had other plans. In the very first match against Austria (1-0), a brutal clash fractured his nose. Forced to play under a protective mask, Mbappé never regained his full potential.
Despite a respectable run by France to the semi-finals, the team was defeated by Spain, the eventual tournament winners (2-1). Mbappé scored only one goal, from a penalty, a meager consolation for a player of his stature. “I couldn’t meet expectations. It’s a failed competition for me,” he admitted, his face gloomy, after the elimination.
Troubled Start in Madrid
On the club front, things were not any kinder. After his much-anticipated transfer to Real Madrid, Mbappé faced a tough integration under the spotlight. The Spanish media, never shy with criticism, quickly pointed out his performance falling short of expectations.
"Adaptation takes time," pleaded Carlo Ancelotti, known for his patience. But the demanding, unforgiving environment in Madrid offers no room for mistakes. To make matters worse, there was an ongoing financial dispute with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, over unpaid bonuses estimated at 55 million euros.
The Shadow of Controversies
As if that wasn’t enough, the forward found himself unintentionally caught up in a controversy in Sweden. The Swedish press briefly mentioned him in a rape case, an accusation that Swedish justice swiftly dismissed in December, without even mentioning his name in the official investigation. "These accusations are unfounded, but they leave scars," said a close friend of the player.
2025, the Time for a Comeback?
For Mbappé, 2024 ends with a sense of unfinished business. But the forward is no stranger to challenges. “It’s failures that forge the greatest champions,” he said after the loss to Spain.
As 2025 dawns, he has everything to prove, both with Real Madrid and the national team, especially with the World Cup qualifiers on the horizon. With or without a mask, Mbappé will need to reinvent himself to return to the top and recapture the flair that once made defenders tremble worldwide.
His story is not over. The mask has fallen, but the captain is still standing.
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