Eto'o says Mbappe not fully appreciated in France
Samuel Eto'o has claimed Kylian Mbappe is not regarded on the same level as "other great champions" in France, despite his superstar status.
Mbappe is leading France's quest for a second World Cup triumph in the space of eight years.
The 27 year-old has scored eight goals, leading the Golden Boot race alongside Lionel Messi.
Overall, Mbappe has plundered 20 World Cup goals since his debut in the competition in 2018, which is four more than any other player in that time.
Indeed, only Messi (21) has scored more World Cup goals in total than Mbappe, who netted in the 2018 final and plundered a hat-trick in the 2022 showpiece.
Eto'o, though, believes Mbappe is under-appreciated in France.
"He simply deserves to be judged with the same fairness as other great champions, and perhaps it's time for France to fully appreciate how fortunate it is to have a player of such stature in its history," the former Barcelona striker told Le Parisien.
"But despite his performances, his records, his list of achievements, and his consistency, he seems to constantly have to prove himself again.
"What more does Kylian Mbappe have to accomplish to be fully recognised as the best French player of his generation, or even as one of the greatest French players in history?"
Mbappe is outspoken in his political views and is of Cameroonian and Algerian heritage, and Eto'o feels this may play a part.
"It's legitimate to ask a question, even if it's uncomfortable: Do Kylian's mixed heritage, his origins, and what he represents in French society influence, consciously or unconsciously, how some people judge his career, his personality, and his stances?" Eto'o said.
"This question deserves to be asked responsibly, not to make unfounded accusations, but because racism, prejudice, and bias still exist in our societies and should never be normalised."
Mbappe will be aiming to steer France into the World Cup final when Les Bleus take on Spain in Dallas on Thursday.
The Real Madrid attacker has scored 12 goals in the knockout stages of the World Cup, the most of any player.
However, he has not found the net in either of his two previous semi-final appearances in the competition.
