World Cup

'Something has yet to be realized': Fedor Smolov discusses the

19 July 2026·5 min read·Luisa Fernández
'Something has yet to be realized': Fedor Smolov discusses the

Fedor Smolov, former striker of Dynamo and Krasnodar, issued a bold opinion about the game and influence of Kylian Mbappé in the French national team at the World Cup 2026. In an interview on the podcast of

‘May hindi pa naisasakatuparan’: Fedor Smolov tumalakay sa

Ayon sa Championat.

Konteksto

Si Kylian Mbappé, isang pangunahing manlalaro ng Selección de Francia, ay inaasahang magiging susi sa tagumpay ng kanyang koponan sa World Cup 2026. Sa kabila ng kanyang mga nakamit, ang mga pahayag ni Smolov ay nagbigay-diin sa mga hamon na kinakaharap ni Mbappé sa kanyang papel sa koponan, na maaaring makaapekto sa kanyang pagganap sa hinaharap.

Why it matters

Fedor Smolov's comments about Kylian Mbappé highlighted the expectations surrounding the French superstar at World Cup 2026. Despite his individual achievements, there are questions about his contribution to the team and the impact it has on his teammates. These criticisms could affect the morale of the Selección de Francia as the tournament approaches.

Key Points

  • 'Something has yet to be realized': Fedor Smolov discusses.
  • Fedor Smolov has criticized Kylian Mbappé's game and influence at the 2026 World Cup, including alleged tension with teammates and 'unrealized' expectations of rewards and titles.
  • «У него есть недореализованость». Смолов — о Мбаппе - Чемпионата.
Fedor Smolov, former Dynamo and Krasnodar striker, issued a bold opinion about Kylian Mbappé's game and influence on the French national team at the World Cup 2026. In an interview with Adam Zubayraev's podcast on YouTube, Smolov described that there seems to be "unrealized" expectations of the French superstar, even though he is one of the tournament's brightest stars. According to Smolov, Mbappé has long been associated with the greatest individual and team rewards. He said that the expected Ballon d'Or and crown at the highest level in Europe has been nailed to him for more than six or seven years. Smolov added that after Mbappé left Paris Saint-Germain, a string of victories came immediately for the former teammates—and he even mentioned that Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon d'Or. In Smolov's eyes, this kind of incident deepens the feeling that there is still something 'lacking' in what Mbappé has achieved. Smolov also did not miss Mbappé's dynamic with club and national team teammates. When asked if Real Madrid could potentially sign Michael Olise to form a combination with Mbappé, Smolov believes the Frenchman may not like this type of competition within his own group. He added that there seems to be a problem in the relationship between Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, and it is noticed that the latter's agility decreases when they are together on the pitch—Smolov indicated that Mbappé's presence 'underwhelms' some of the teammates.
Image
As an example of tension, Smolov recalled the match against Norway where Dembélé scored a hat-trick. In his account, it seems that it provoked an immediate response from Mbappé, apparently he also wanted to show that he can go along with starring in the offense. Smolov also shared a scene in which, according to him, Mbappé returned the captain's armband to the referee instead of passing it to a teammate because he had not scored in the match—a gesture he described as a symbol of intense personal desire and the pressure of expectations. Despite the comments, Mbappé's production at World Cup 2026 cannot be overstated. He scored eight goals in the tournament—proof of his quality as Les Bleus' main weapon in attack. Still, according to Smolov, the question remains of how the 25-year-old forward will balance individual ambition, leadership and the team's collective rhythm on the biggest stages. These observations are from Smolov's point of view on the said podcast and are part of the ongoing discussion around Mbappé—a player at the center of expectations as France fights the weight of being the favorite in an enlarged World Cup with 48 teams and 104 matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico. As Mbappé brings up his eight-goal mark, it remains an open question how he will fully meet the huge expectations—from individual rewards to the biggest titles—while ensuring the entire machine of the French team is working.

What's next

In the coming weeks, Mbappé may focus on his game and relationship with teammates, especially if allegations of tension within the team are true. His performance in the World Cup 2026 football will be important not only for his reputation but also for France's success in the tournament. Relationship issues with teammates such as Vinícius Júnior and Ousmane Dembélé should also be scrutinized.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Fedor Smolov say about Kylian Mbappé?

Fedor Smolov says there seem to be 'unfulfilled' expectations for Kylian Mbappé at the 2026 World Cup, even if he is one of the tournament's brightest stars.

Where did Fedor Smolov give his opinion about Mbappé?

Fedor Smolov gave his opinion in an interview on Adam Zubayraev's podcast on YouTube.

Why is it said that there is still 'lack' of what Mbappé has achieved?

Smolov said that there is still something 'missing' in Mbappé's achievements because of the expected rewards such as the Ballon d'Or that he has not yet won.

What is the impact of Mbappé leaving Paris Saint-Germain according to Smolov?

According to Smolov, after Mbappé left Paris Saint-Germain, success immediately followed for his former teammates.

What did Smolov say about the relationship between Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior?

Smolov said that there seems to be a problem in the relationship between Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, and notices that Vinícius' agility decreases when they are together on the pitch.

Kaugnay na Balita

Kaugnay na Balita

Mga Madalas na Itanong

Ano ang sinabi ni Fedor Smolov tungkol kay Kylian Mbappé?
Sinabi ni Fedor Smolov na tila may 'hindi pa naisasakatuparan' na inaasahan kay Kylian Mbappé sa World Cup 2026, kahit na isa siya sa pinakamatingkad na bituin ng torneo.
Saan nagbigay ng opinyon si Fedor Smolov tungkol kay Mbappé?
Nagbigay ng opinyon si Fedor Smolov sa isang panayam sa podcast ni Adam Zubayraev sa YouTube.
Bakit sinabing may 'kulang' pa sa mga naabot ni Mbappé?
Sinabi ni Smolov na may 'kulang' pa sa mga naabot ni Mbappé dahil sa mga inaasahang gantimpala tulad ng Ballon d’Or na hindi pa niya natamo.
Ano ang epekto ng pag-alis ni Mbappé sa Paris Saint-Germain ayon kay Smolov?
Ayon kay Smolov, matapos umalis si Mbappé sa Paris Saint-Germain, agad na dumating ang sunod-sunod na tagumpay para sa kanyang mga dating kakampi.
Ano ang sinabi ni Smolov tungkol sa ugnayan ni Mbappé at Vinícius Júnior?
Sinabi ni Smolov na tila may sagabal sa ugnayan ni Mbappé at Vinícius Júnior, at napapansing bumababa ang liksi ni Vinícius kapag magkasama sila sa loob ng pitch.
What happened in this story?
‘May hindi pa naisasakatuparan’: Fedor Smolov tumalakay sa summarizes the main development covered in this report.
Who confirmed this news?
See the source attribution in the article for where this report was first published or corroborated.
World Cup 2026Mundial 2026Сборная ФранцииКилиан МбаппеФёдор Смолов

Related Articles

Fedor Smolov: 'Something has not been realized' with Kylian | Azkals Goal | Azkals Goal