Real Madrid megastar Mbappe leaves door open for future MLS move: ‘Maybe, I do not know’
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Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe made an excellent start to the 2026 World Cup with France, scoring two goals in a 3-1 win over Senegal.
It was a game the Frenchman did not start very well, but as he often tends to do during World Cups, he came into his own as it went on.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Frenchman spoke at a press conference, as quoted by RMC Sport, on the eve of France’s second game at the tournament.
He is fully focused on Real Madrid and France, but the French captain has admitted that David Beckham has already spoken to him about the possibility of one day moving to the United States.
Beckham has made his pitch
Mbappe was asked about a possible future in MLS, with Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami, trying to tempt him towards football in the United States.
He said: “The United States has a different culture from ours. I have always liked this culture where ambition has no limits, where people are not afraid to say what they can and want to do. It does not work everywhere.”
“Will I come here before the end of my career? Maybe, I do not know. David asks me if I want to come to the United States. We will see. It is a country I like, it is a pleasure to be here.”
Not ruling out future MLS move. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
He also made it clear that his mind is not yet on life after playing. He said: “I do not necessarily think about being a coach, I am just a lover of the game, I like to understand the smallest details and learn”
Mbappe is still only 27, still in his prime and still chasing history. Coaching, retirement and late-career planning can wait.
For Madrid fans, there is no need to panic. This is not a transfer story for today. It is a global superstar acknowledging a future possibility in a market that naturally wants him.
Inter Miami already changed the conversation around MLS with Lionel Messi. If Beckham is now dreaming of Mbappe as a future successor, that is a compliment to the player’s status.
Focused on the present
Mbappe was also asked whether he could extend his career like Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, who are still competing deep into their 30s and early 40s.
“I will not be here at 40, you will have chased me away before! I have no projection with the France team. I am just thinking about the present moment,” he said.
Mbappe is set for his 100th France cap against Iraq, a milestone he called special, but he made it clear that winning comes first.
Nearing a special milestone with France. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AdvertisementAdvertisement“It is always a pleasure to have the opportunity to play for the national team. There is nothing bigger than playing for the national team,” noted Mbappe.
“100 is a historic number, it will be special for me but the stakes will come first, we have to win to qualify.”
The France captain has backed up his words on the pitch for his team, and he will be hoping to contribute again to their cause.
Mbappe also has extra motivation. He saw Lionel Messi equal Klose’s record for the most goals at the World Cup and is now just two away from reaching that milestone himself.
Although the Argentine legend plays in an earlier kick-off on the same day and could make the record his own before Mbappe, the Real Madrid star will still be keen to move past Klose tonight. It remains to be seen how things play out.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
