So, Kylian Mbappe has taken a stand. Last weekend it was reported that the France and Real Madrid forward only wants to play in the games that really matter for his country. According to French outlet Foot Mercato, Mbappe "would ideally only like to play important matches with the French team."
It was news that was met with a mixture of puzzlement and indignation around the world. How could this player, France's captain, Madrid's newest Galactico, one of the most recognisable athletes on the planet, elect to not do what he's very good at? Well, it turns out there's some complexity here. The report suggests that the reason for Mbappe's decision is his desire to win a coveted Ballon d'Or, a prize he will no doubt have to fight Madrid team-mates for.
But there are perhaps other reasons at play here, too. Player welfare is a concern, as is the fear of injury. But for all of the reasons that it might just make sense, Mbappe's reported decision to sit himself out when he pleases could prove to be detrimental. A megastar, a captain and a leader is doing something not only inherently selfish, but also something that could harm his team. Mbappe's Ballon d'Or bid by omission could backfire badly.
Too many matches
Mbappe's reasoning is said to be simple: he is playing too many games. Some of them are not helping his case to win the Ballon d'Or. It is irrelevant to Mbappe the brand - not the footballer - to stroll through an hour of an ugly international in the Nations League. The virtuosic talent, we are perhaps implicitly told, can only deliver so often.
And in some ways, that makes sense. Squad rotation is a normal part of football these days. The best teams, typically, are the ones who can reach into their bench and find answers. They can cope without their best players, and manage the knocks that come over the course of the season. That certainly wasn't the case for Mbappe's PSG. When he was out injured, or benched in his latter days in Paris, PSG struggled to pick up points. No matter how much Luis Enrique insisted that he was making the best decisions for his team.
It is hardly revolutionary to suggest that teams tend to need their best player to win, but the absolute best can at least manage when those individuals need a night off.
The Ballon d'Or pull
This is, we are led to believe, is all focused around Mbappe's supposed desire to win the Ballon d'Or. Whatever importance you attach to the award, there is no doubt that winning it remains a huge ambition for the Frenchman and the world's top players. After all, in the post-Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo wasteland, the battle to finish first appears to be more wide open than ever.
This year, Vinicius Jr seems the obvious winner. His trophy cabinet speaks for itself, as does his penchant for scoring important goals. Want the big player, for the big moments, with the most style? Vinicius is your man.
Mbappe, though, might claim to be more talented. He is certainly a more consistent goalscoring threat, and has won everything but the Champions League. Throw in that he is still just 25 and it would seem that there is a Ballon d'Or in his future. But Mbappe feels, of course, that he can influence his chances. Play in the big moments, score the right goals, show up when it really counts and he may just pip his Madrid team-mate to the award next year. And there is some sense to that. If individual accolades are what this is all about, then Mbappe is, in effect, making the right decision.
