06.06.2026 12:00
Before France's friendly match against Ivory Coast, Fenerbahçe star Kante drew attention by shaking hands with his teammates but skipping Mbappe. The footage brought back the earlier debate over the captain's armband.
Images of Kylian Mbappe and N'Golo Kante before the match drew attention as the French National Team is among the favorites for the 2026 World Cup.
A moment in the tunnel before the friendly match, which Ivory Coast won 2-1, caused widespread reactions in the football community.
KANTE SKIPS MBAPPE
Going to his teammates in the starting eleven before the match, N'Golo Kante shook hands one by one and wished them success. However, the experienced footballer was seen continuing on without shaking the hand of Kylian Mbappe, who was at the front of the line. These moments, captured by cameras, quickly became a topic of debate.
CAPTAIN'S ARMBAND INCIDENT RESUMES
After Kante's action, attention turned to the captain's armband incident from recent months. In a friendly match where France defeated Colombia 3-1 on March 29, images of Mbappe, who came on as a substitute, asking Kante, then team captain, for the captain's armband had caused a great stir. This move was criticized by some football fans and interpreted as "disrespect."
"RETALIATION" COMMENTS MADE
Kante not shaking Mbappe's hand in the latest friendly match was interpreted by some fans as retaliation for the captain's armband incident. As claims of a rift between the pair resurfaced, the debate gained significant traction in the football community.
DIFFERENT VIEWS IN FRENCH PRESS
Meanwhile, some French journalists and football fans argued that there was no issue between the two stars. In evaluations, it was stated that Kante might not have seen Mbappe and that the incident was purely coincidental.