Borja Iglesias, a Spanish footballer who recently ended his season at Bayer Leverkusen on loan from Real Betis, responded with a touch of irony to Kylian Mbappé’s political statements with the French national team. “Hey, don’t get mad. Mbappé said it, not me,” wrote the forward, who in 2023 resigned from the national team “until things change and this doesn’t go unpunished,” calling for “a fairer, more humane, and decent football” and criticizing the harassment of Jenni Hermoso, in response to Mbappé’s call for French citizens to vote in the elections.
Borja Iglesias, who faced criticism on social media for his personal preferences and opinions (he used his sexual orientation to send a message against homophobia), also praised Mbappé’s words with applause emojis. “I believe we are at a crucial moment in our country, we are citizens first and we cannot be disconnected. It is an unprecedented situation, and I want to address the people, especially the youth. We see extremists at the doors of power, and I urge the youth to go out and vote. We must identify with the values of this country, every vote counts, and I hope the right choice is made,” declared the new Real Madrid player.
Mbappé aligns with Thuram in his call to vote against Le Pen. Mbappé did not hesitate to support his teammate Marcus Thuram, who called for voting against Marine Le Pen: “I share Marcus’s values, he didn’t go too far for me. It is freedom of expression, and I stand with him.”
“I am against extremism, those that divide. There are young people who abstain, and I want to send them this message. Their voice does change things. I want to be proud to defend a country that represents my values. This is more important than tomorrow’s match because the country’s situation is different. I believe in the values of diversity, tolerance, and respect,” reflected the French footballer.
In a world where athletes are often seen as just entertainers, it is refreshing to see them using their platform to speak out on important issues like politics and social justice. Both Borja Iglesias and Kylian Mbappé are setting an example for the younger generation by encouraging civic engagement and standing up for what they believe in. Their willingness to speak out shows that athletes can be more than just players on the field; they can be voices for change and advocates for a better society.