Be clever! Mbappe jokes about stepping on penalty spots: It’s a cunning little trick, do it more covertly next time

In the fifth round of Group D of the European Group Stage of the World Cup Qualifiers, France defeated Ukraine 4-0 at home and successfully qualified for the World Cup. During the game, when a potential penalty kick awarded to Ukraine was being reviewed by VAR, Mbappe quietly tried to sabotage Ukraine's penalty kick. After the game, he laughed and teased the incident in an interview with TF1.

At that time, the referee was checking a potential foul on Pamecano. While the referee went to the sidelines to check the video, Mbappe tried to destroy Ukraine's penalty spot. He himself generously admitted this "little move" during the interview.

Mbappe said: "There was no one near the penalty spot. I often take penalty kicks myself, so I roughly know where the supporting foot will be. If they really get a penalty and the opponent's supporting foot can slip a little, of course we will make a profit..." He couldn't help laughing when he said this.

He continued to smile and said: "It was a 'mouse-like trick' (meaning a cunning little trick). I talked to the referee at the time, and he immediately told me that a penalty kick might be awarded. So I assumed that it would be awarded. I just wanted to put Maignan in the most advantageous position. Conditions. This is not a behavior that should be imitated, but like I said, it is a bit of a 'mouse trick'."

"Now that you ask this question, everyone will know that I have to be more subtle in the future." He said with a big smile.

In the end, the referee did not award a penalty kick to Ukraine. The French team achieved a 4-goal victory and finally officially locked in the qualification for the 2026 World Cup.