Kylian Mbappé is 27, has a World Cup trophy, scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final, and captains France — and right now 40 million people signed a petition demanding Real Madrid sell him while the internet debates whether his actress girlfriend danced too close to Bad Bunny.

Welcome to being the most scrutinized athlete on earth.

The Petition That Broke the Internet

Since May, a petition calling for Mbappé's departure from Real Madrid has racked up 40 million signatures — more people than the population of Canada.

He's still scoring. Still producing. But Madrid crashed out of the Champions League, PSG has since won two UCL titles without him, and somehow Mbappé became the scapegoat for both clubs.

The man who scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final is now being booed by his own former fanbase at trophy celebrations.

Online petition and fan backlash against Mbappé

The Yacht Photos

Paparazzi caught Mbappé on a yacht off Spain's Balearic Islands — with Expósito, on jet skis, looking entirely unbothered.

Twitter decided he's "not taking the World Cup seriously." For what it's worth, he's nursing a thigh injury and was advised to rest. Jet skis are probably not the recommended rehab protocol, but let the man live.

Who Is Esther Expósito?

Star of Netflix's Elite with 24 million Instagram followers. Madrid-born, classically trained since age 13, fiercely private. She and Mbappé went public in March after months of rumors — never formally discussing the relationship, just showing up at dinners, matches, and yachts.

The Bad Bunny Controversy

Video surfaced of Expósito at a Bad Bunny concert in Madrid — VIP area, dancing near the rapper. The internet screamed cheating scandal.

Expósito's response was direct: the real problem wasn't "two seconds of dancing" but a culture obsessed with policing women's bodies under the guise of protecting male athletes. She was invited. She went. She had fun. End of story.

The Stakes

France enter the 2026 World Cup as one of the favorites. Mbappé is their captain, talisman, and best player — with a thigh injury, a mountain of public criticism, and every tabloid tracking his relationship like a royal wedding.

If France wins, none of this will matter. If they don't? Those 40 million signatures might start looking like an undercount.

Key Takeaways

The Petition That Broke the Internet

The Yacht Photos

Who Is Esther Expósito?

The Bad Bunny Controversy

The Stakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do fans want Real Madrid to sell Kylian Mbappé?

Who is Kylian Mbappé's girlfriend Esther Expósito?

What was the Bad Bunny controversy with Mbappé?

Is Mbappé injured before World Cup 2026?

Will Mbappé captain France at World Cup 2026?

real madrid drama

Mbappé's $200M Girlfriend Drama, 40M People Want Him Out, and He's On a Yacht