The end of an era. The great challenge.

Football has evolved. For many years, it relied on the expression of individual talent. The duel between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo marked a generation: extraordinary stats, a collection of Ballon d'Or awards, and the most prestigious titles.

Of course, these players operated within strong teams. But, deep down, everything depended on their exceptional ability to make the difference.

Today, I feel that talent is no longer enough. It is the team that prevails. And Kylian Mbappé is paying the price in his career, despite an undisputed talent that, in my eyes, makes him the best striker currently playing.

An exceptional status, without the title that goes with it

Despite this status as an exceptional player, he finishes this year without any major titles, except for World Cup top scorer. An individual award—a meager consolation for a player who, in my view, deserves a shelf lined with several Ballon d'Or trophies.

Kylian Mbappé's flaw may be having remained stuck in that football era embodied by Messi and Ronaldo. He said so himself after the third-place playoff against England: « Léo scores every match, for sure he'll score tomorrow. »

History would prove him wrong. In the final, Argentina did not take a single shot on target during the 90 minutes of regular time.

The team before the talent

Some remain blinded by History, to the point of struggling to recognize what is changing. Today, the collective takes precedence over individual talent. The pursuit of personal achievements harms the group, whereas previously, it was the team that enabled the expression of individual talent.

This, in my opinion, is what Luis Enrique tried to explain to Kylian Mbappé. The latter left Paris Saint-Germain with the ambition of winning the Champions League. After his departure, the club won it two years in a row.

Of course Kylian Mbappé understands football. That is precisely why his analytical mistakes are interesting. How can a player so grounded, so clear-eyed, be so wrong? His certainties and self-confidence are his strengths, but can also become his biggest weakness.

« Lost to itself »?

When Rayan Cherki declares that the French team « lost to itself » after the defeat against Spain, he expresses, in my view, a mindset that is still very present. Yet France played its game. They had fourteen shots against a Spanish team against whom very few opponents managed more than six chances.

France did not simply lose focus. It was Spain that took them off their game. Not by playing on the French players' nerves, but by proposing a more structured, more coherent, and more effective team football. France was dominated because Spain was stronger.

The end of an era, the start of a challenge

This World Cup may mark the end of an era.

Kylian Mbappé remains, in my eyes, the best player in the world, both on and off the pitch. Already the top scorer in World Cup history, will he have the destiny his talent deserves? Will he be able to evolve his game and his understanding of football?

And what about the new manager of the French team, Zinedine Zidane?

The challenge ahead is immense. Imagining the future of the French team without Mbappé seems inconceivable. How will he bring out the best in him?

Luis Enrique chose to part ways with Kylian Mbappé, with the success we know. In another era, Aimé Jacquet left out Cantona and Ginola. That decision brought heavy criticism before being vindicated.

Today, it seems unthinkable that Zinedine Zidane would leave out Kylian Mbappé. But perhaps that's not the question. During his time at Real Madrid, Zidane managed to reinvent Cristiano Ronaldo's game, evolving him from an ultra-active winger to a clinical finisher, while also strengthening the team around him, notably thanks to the work of Karim Benzema.

He will probably need to find a similar formula with Mbappé.

And let's be clear: I am a huge admirer of both the player and the manager, but a true challenge awaits them both—and it's not about proving their talent.

Contribution by Olivier NTSIBA