Macron, Mbappé, and the National Interest: When the President Personally Intervened in 2022

When Emmanuel Macron personally intervened in Kylian Mbappé's future in spring 2022, it was no longer just about a spectacular football transfer. At the Élysée Palace, the world champion was regarded as much more than an exceptional striker: he was seen as a symbol of French excellence, a flagship of national sports, and a personality with considerable influence far beyond the boundaries of football. Several reports and later statements from those involved suggest that Macron viewed Mbappé as a kind of strategic asset for France – almost as a national ...