French team, return of resentment and clan wars confirmed

Hugo Lloris’ statement on the profile of the 2026 Ballon d’Or was judged by some to be a dig sent…

By Manu Tournoux · French Football Weekly

Published: Friday, 30 October 2026 at 2:30 AM

Key Things to Know

Observers interpreted Hugo Lloris's praise of Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or win as an indirect dig at Kylian Mbappé.
Harry Kane reportedly won the 2026 Ballon d'Or ahead of runner-up Mbappé.
Pundit Dave Appadoo argued on L'Équipe that former France captain Lloris knowingly aimed his comments at Mbappé.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Hugo Lloris praised Harry Kane's 2026 Ballon d'Or victory over Kylian Mbappé, describing Kane as a team-focused player rather than merely a scoring machine. French media observers interpreted Lloris's comments as an intentional indirect criticism of Mbappé, reigniting discussions about historical divisions within the France national team.

Pundits on L'Équipe, including Dave Appadoo and Étienne Moatti, argued that Lloris deliberately highlighted traits contrasting with Mbappé's style. Moatti noted that Lloris belonged to a faction alongside Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann that experienced friction before Mbappé assumed the national team captaincy.

Read the full article on French Football Weekly

French team, return of resentment and clan wars confirmed

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