N'Golo Kanté and Kylian Mbappé are at the center of speculation over an alleged rift in the France national team.
## What happened?
The rumors intensified after a March 29 friendly between France and Colombia.
N'Golo Kanté has revitalized his career in Saudi Arabia, helping Al Nassr FC win the league title alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
## Why it matters for N'Golo Kanté
Kanté's bond with Mbappé was forged while representing one of the world's most talented national teams, a partnership that helped France lift the trophy at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The two stars currently find themselves in very different stages of their careers, with Mbappé enjoying a strong individual campaign with Real Madrid CF.
## What comes next?
France is determined to return to the summit of international football after finishing runners-up at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and suffering disappointment against Spain national football team at Euro 2024.
N'Golo Kanté was awarded France’s prestigious Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur following the World Cup triumph in 2018.
Social media users have pointed to footage that allegedly shows Mbappé reacting awkwardly during the ceremony, fueling years of speculation.
The France national team is considered one of the favorites to lift the World Cup trophy on July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
And N'Golo Kanté will need to put any distractions aside and unite behind a common goal: bringing another world title back to France.
But the rumors have sparked debate over the strength of Kanté's friendship with Mbappé.
So the France national team's focus must remain on the bigger picture.
N'Golo Kanté and Kylian Mbappé are key leaders of the French national team.
The two players have shared some of the greatest moments of their careers, including World Cup glory.