'Please leave him alone' – Didier Deschamps sends out Kylian Mbappe plea after leaving Real Madrid star out of France squad

Didier Deschamps urged the media to leave Kylian Mbappe "alone" after the Real Madrid star was left out of the France squad.

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• World Cup winner overlooked again by Deschamps
• Relationship with his manager under scrutiny
• Struggling with his form at Real Madrid

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, has been left out of Deschamps' roster for the second international window in a row, sparking speculation about a potential rift between the manager and the France skipper. However, earlier the coach had clarified that it was his call alone to leave the forward out as he feels it is "better" without the 2018 World Cup winner in the fold.

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  WHAT DESCHAMPS SAID

  During a press conference in Paris ahead of France’s high-stakes Nations League fixture against Israel, Deschamps was immediately questioned on whether he had personally discussed the issue with Mbappe. With a light-hearted response, he expressed surprise that the question had not come up sooner, then quickly added: "Listen, I told you what I told you. You are free to speak and interpret that. I have a game tomorrow, There are 23 players here. Kylian isn’t here – please leave him alone.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe’s absence from the French squad comes amid a challenging phase in his career. Following a recent trip to Sweden during the October international break, the 25-year-old forward faced accusations of sexual misconduct, adding a layer of scrutiny around his personal life. Simultaneously, his form on the pitch has come under question, with the goalscorer yet to live up to expectations since arriving in Madrid.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  With 86 international caps and 48 goals, Mbappe remains nine goals shy of Olivier Giroud’s all-time scoring record for France. However, his absence means that he won't be in action for the Les Bleus until March 2025 when the squad reconvenes for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.