Kylian Mbappe, the French football star, recently made headlines for speaking out about the upcoming French elections. Prior to his injury in France’s opening Euro 2024 match, Mbappe warned that “extremes are at the gates of power” and expressed his refusal to represent a country that does not align with his values. His comments, along with those of other members of the French squad, have sparked a debate about the involvement of professional footballers in politics.
Mbappe’s statement was significant because he is a highly influential figure in France and has been courted by the political establishment. French President Emmanuel Macron has personally engaged with Mbappe multiple times, including inviting him to a diplomatic lunch and helping convince him to stay in France when he considered leaving Paris St-Germain. Macron has even intervened with Real Madrid to reverse their decision to ban their players, including Mbappe, from competing in the Olympic Games.
Mbappe’s comments were unexpected because he had never previously indicated his political leanings. While he has connections to a socialist former mayor, he had not openly expressed his political beliefs before. On the other hand, Marcus Thuram’s intervention was less surprising, as his father is a well-known anti-racism advocate. Thuram has spoken out against discrimination in the past and went a step further by urging the people of France to prevent far-right party National Rally from gaining power.
The French Football Federation released a statement clarifying that players are allowed to express themselves freely, but as an organization, they remain politically neutral. However, the interventions of Mbappe and Thuram could potentially impact the upcoming elections by mobilizing younger voters who may not have been considering voting or were unaware of the election. Young voters, particularly those from urban suburbs and ethnic minority backgrounds, have historically had high abstention rates. Mbappe and Thuram both come from these backgrounds, and their warnings could serve as a wake-up call for young people who were not previously engaged in the political process.
It remains to be seen whether Mbappe and Thuram’s interventions will have a significant effect on the election outcome. While their messages may not resonate with supporters of Marine le Pen’s National Rally, they could potentially mobilize younger voters who were previously disengaged. The influence and popularity of figures like Mbappe can have a powerful impact on public opinion, and their involvement in political discourse adds an interesting dimension to the intersection of sports and politics.