En vacances à Amsterdam, ville assez peu voiture friendly comme chacun sait, quel plaisir de ne pas être submergé par le brouhaha automobile, des bruits de moteurs aux klaxons. C'est reposant et on préfère entendre le bruit des gens, des goélands et des bateaux.
Voilà c'est tout, c'est le post
Article translation :
“Kylian, forgive us”: a petition to “clear the name” of the French national team player, who has been the target of criticism for several months
Sometimes hated, sometimes adored, fans’ feelings toward Kylian Mbappé often swing back and forth. If you, too, have criticized the captain of Les Bleus in recent months and would like to make amends, you can join the more than 75,000 signatories of a petition launched by internet users a few days ago. Titled “Kylian, forgive us,” the petition makes a humorous request: to ask the French player for forgiveness in a lighthearted tone.
“France has behaved badly. We doubted him, we criticized him, we were ungrateful. It’s time to make amends,” reads the preamble on the website. With the option to check off each criticism leveled against the 27-year-old international to determine a “national shame meter,” the authors have set a rather peculiar goal: “Every signature and every act of contrition will be recorded in *The Great Book of National Forgiveness*, a solemn volume to be personally handed to Kylian Mbappé. All entries will also be published online, creating a public and eternal archive of the nation’s repentance.”
Challenges for Each Signature Milestone
At each signature milestone—or rather, “request for forgiveness”—a challenge is issued. From a “National Shame Trophy” awarded by the satirical website of the French Federation of Losers for 25,000 signatures, to an even more eccentric challenge: the presentation of a “National Certificate of Forgiveness” to Kylian Mbappé by Zinedine Zidane upon reaching the one-million-signature milestone.
The French captain’s dazzling start to the 2026 World Cup is, however, closely tied to this approach. Having scored his third two-goal game since the start of the World Cup in Tuesday night’s Round of 16 match against Sweden, Kylian Mbappé is now just one goal behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi (19 to 18) to become the all-time leading scorer in the tournament’s history. His performances are impressive, even in the international press, where he is once again being called a “phenomenon,” echoing the golden memories of his first World Cup appearance in 2018 at just 19 years old, which was marked by a victory.
From the “Mbappé Out” Petition to the “Forgive Kylian” Petition
Before regaining his status as the “little prince” of the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé had been the target of criticism in recent months. Another petition had been launched in May 2026—this time against Mbappé—just two months before the “Forgive Kylian” petition. Launched by a satirical account, this petition featured the Real Madrid player with a “Fuera (out)” stamp crossed over his name to urge his departure from the Spanish capital’s club. Signed 44 million times, it sparked controversy over the use of bots, despite its popularity on social media. “If you think change is needed, don’t stay silent: sign this petition and stand up for what you believe is best for the club’s future,” read the petition’s description.
What sparked the drama? A trip granted by the club itself to the player, who was suffering from a hamstring injury, in late April—just days before a match against rival FC Barcelona. Against a backdrop of tensions in the Real Madrid locker room, the controversy quickly escalated, evoking memories of the player’s tumultuous departure from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024—particularly among the Parisian club’s French fans. A little less than two months after the petition from Madrid came the “Forgive Kylian” petition. When “Kyks” shifted his focus to the World Cup, the “repentant French,” as they call themselves, apologized.
Translated with DeepL.com