Paul Pogba Talks About the Constant Pressure Surrounding Kylian Mbappé and the France Team

Paul Pogba has spoken positively about France’s chances at the 2026 World Cup and believes the national team should be counted among the tournament’s top favorites. Speaking in New York at an adidas event, where he was back in the spotlight, the 2018 World Cup winner discussed both the start of the competition and the current state of the French squad. After a difficult period in his career, Pogba adopted an optimistic tone and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete for the title.

Pogba also commented on Kylian Mbappé, with whom he shared France’s World Cup triumph in 2018. He said the forward has faced pressure since the age of 17 and that the burden only increases with time, especially for a player of his stature. According to Pogba, that pressure can also be a positive force, and he believes it is helping Mbappé perform at a high level.

The former Manchester United midfielder described Mbappé as an exceptional player and stressed that, whether people like it or not, his quality is undeniable. He added that Mbappé must help France win matches, but insisted that the striker knows how to deal with criticism and expectations. Pogba said that big players are always under pressure: strong performances are expected, while poor or average displays quickly invite criticism.

He argued that Mbappé has the mental strength to move past setbacks, pointing to his ability to keep scoring goals consistently throughout the season. In Pogba’s view, if pressure truly affected the French captain mentally, he would not be able to deliver such high numbers or remain so effective year after year. His comments underline both his respect for Mbappé’s talent and his belief that the forward can carry France’s hopes at the World Cup.

Pogba’s remarks come at a time when attention is already building around France ahead of the 2026 tournament. As a member of the 2018 champion team, his perspective carries added weight, especially when assessing the expectations surrounding Mbappé and the squad’s ambitions. His message was clear: France has the quality to go far, and Mbappé remains central to that mission.