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<ul><li>Mbappe allegedly refused to carry Olympic torch</li><li>Real Madrid star rubbishes story</li><li>France star was "on the other side of the globe"</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Kylian Mbappe hits out on social media after reports claim he refused to carry Olympic flame in Paris because he wanted to be final torchbearer

<p>French publication <a href="https://x.com/canardenchaine/status/1948695175729217742" target="_blank">Le Canard Enchaine</a> claimed that Mbappe refused to be the masked torchbearer for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony last year when asked by three-time Olympic canoeist champion Tony Estanguet. The report adds that the 26-year-old declined the offer as he wanted to be the last person to hold the Olympic torch, a role that went to ex-200m sprinter Marie-José Pérec and three-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner. In response, the Real Madrid star sardonically dismissed the story on social media.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>In response to the tweet, he wrote on X: "LOL. You forgot to mention that I also wanted to be the leader of the French basketball team, I think... I was just chilling on vacation on the other side of the globe. No reason to be the last torchbearer since I have no history with the Olympics."</p><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">MDR 😂.<br>Vous avez oublié de dire que je voulais aussi être le meneur de l’équipe de France de Basket je pense…. J’étais juste au calme en vacances à l’autre bout du globe. <br>Aucune raison d’être dernier porteur de flamme vu que je n’ai aucune histoire avec les JO. <a href="https://t.co/1it3Fnzzop">pic.twitter.com/1it3Fnzzop</a></p>— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) <a href="https://twitter.com/KMbappe/status/1948759245119173117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



WHAT MBAPPE SAID

<p>Mbappe has been on the receiving end of a lot of bad press over the past year or so, particularly during the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/kylian-mbappe-lambasted-psg-france-real-madrid/blt166c6bf2707fcdf1" target="_blank">end of his Paris Saint-Germain spell</a>, his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/kylian-mbappe-honest-assessment-of-form-superstar-speaks-out-on-real-madrid-struggles/bltbfde8b96ff37524e" target="_blank">start at Madrid</a>, and with the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/mediocre-kylian-mbappe-told-france-boos-result-fans-bored-going-backwards-under-didier-deschamps/blt9aa0935a4f1c1cbc" target="_blank">French national team</a>. But the best way to kill a story like this is to tackle it head on and Mbappe has done just that, here.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>After helping Madrid reach the semi-finals of the newly rebooted Club World Cup this summer, Mbappe is currently enjoying his holidays before returning to the Spanish giants for their abridged pre-season campaign.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Kylian Mbappe hits out on social media after reports claim he refused to carry Olympic flame in Paris because he wanted to be final torchbearer | Goal.com

Kylian Mbappe has rubbished reports he refused to carry the Olympic flame in Paris because he wanted to be the final torchbearer.