Mbappé pledges flute celebration for World Cup opener against Senegal
Kylian Mbappé has committed to mimicking a flute performance if he scores in France’s tournament debut, following a lighthearted interview segment with James Corden.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has agreed to celebrate by mimicking the gesture of playing a flute if he scores in France’s World Cup opener against Senegal on 16 June. The commitment was made during an interview with James Corden, where the French star referenced a childhood experience with the instrument.
Mbappé’s parents encouraged him to explore activities beyond football during his youth, leading him to play the flute for one or two years. He described the experience as “fun” but admitted he never mastered the instrument. During the interview, Corden held a flute and posed with Mbappé, who attempted the gesture with what was described as modest results.
The Real Madrid forward arrives at the tournament as one of the leading favourites for the Golden Boot. France make their debut against Senegal on 16 June, and the conditional celebration—if it occurs—would likely become one of the defining images of the early stages of the competition.
Mbappé has previously participated in multiple World Cups and carries significant expectation as one of the world’s best players. He has stated his desire to lift the trophy again, building on his history of carrying the weight of expectation on the international stage.
The original source material for this report was translated into English by artificial intelligence from Spanish. While Mbappé accepted the idea of the celebration without hesitation, the commitment remains contingent on his performance in the upcoming match.
