Samuel Eto’o says Kylian Mbappé deserves greater recognition

Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto’o believes France captain Kylian Mbappé has already done enough to be regarded as one of the greatest players in French football history and says the forward has not always received the recognition he deserves.

The former Cameroon international, who now serves as president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), defended Mbappé during an interview with Le Parisien, questioning why the striker’s standing among France’s footballing greats continues to be debated.

Eto’o argued that the achievements of the French international should already have secured his place among the country’s finest players and suggested that discussions surrounding his legacy go beyond football alone.

The former striker also raised the possibility that perceptions of Mbappé could be influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by his family background. Mbappé was born in France and has Cameroonian and Algerian heritage.

While stressing that he was not making direct accusations, Eto’o said the issue deserved careful consideration because prejudice and discrimination remain realities in modern society.

“It is legitimate to ask a question, even if it is disturbing: does Kylian’s mixed heritage, his origins and what he represents in French society influence, consciously or unconsciously, the way some judge his career, his personality and his stances? This question deserves to be asked responsibly, not to accuse without proof, but because racism, prejudice and bias still exist in our societies and they must never be trivialized,” Eto’o denounced.

The former Barcelona and Inter Milan forward said the discussion should be approached responsibly rather than used to make unfounded allegations.

Instead, he argued that recognising the continued existence of racism, prejudice and unconscious bias is important when assessing how public figures are perceived and judged.

Eto’o believes these issues should not be overlooked, particularly when evaluating the career and public image of a player whose performances have established him among the leading figures in world football.

His comments came in response to ongoing debate over Mbappé’s place in the history of the French national team and French football more broadly.

According to Eto’o, the accomplishments of the France captain should already have ended any uncertainty surrounding his status.

Although he stopped short of claiming that discrimination is the sole reason for criticism directed at Mbappé, the former Cameroon international maintained that questions about bias are legitimate and deserve thoughtful discussion.

For Eto’o, acknowledging that prejudice still exists does not amount to making accusations. Instead, he believes it encourages a more balanced conversation about how elite athletes are assessed, both for their achievements on the pitch and their role in society.

His intervention adds another prominent voice to the debate surrounding Mbappé’s legacy, with Eto’o insisting that the French forward’s achievements warrant greater appreciation and recognition.