Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski are not fans of the proposed biennial FIFA World Cup as they have risen their concerns against the proposed World Cup format.
Former Arsenal’s coach, Arsene Wenger, is working on behalf of FIFA to influence football federations across the world to adopt the controversial biennial FIFA World Cup. If that is done, the FIFA World Cup which is usually held once in four years would hold once in two years.
There are a series of arguments against the proposal which include increment in the number of games players would have to play and the fear that it might clash with some continental football tournaments.
Even though FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino and chief of global football development Arsene Wenger are solidly behind the proposal, European football governing body, UEFA, and South America football governing body, CONMEBOL, have made it clear that they are not in support of the proposal.
One of the biggest selling points behind the proposal is the projection that the Biennial FIFA World Cup would generate additional £3.3billion revenue for member associations of FIFA.
During the 2021 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski were dragged into the debate of the proposed World Cup format.
Bayern Munich and Poland’s striker, Lewandowski argued that the biennial World Cup would give players little or no break. The 33-year-old striker described the proposed World Cup format as mentally and physically impossible.
“We have so many games every year, so many tough weeks, not only the games but preparation for the season, preparation for the big tournaments”, Lewandowski said.
“If you want to offer something special, something different, we also need a break.
“If we have a World Cup every two years, the expectation is the time where footballers play at a high level will go down … It is physically and mentally impossible.”
As for Paris Saint Germain and France’s striker, Kylian Mbappe who won the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, argued that the proposed biennial FIFA World Cup would make the World Cup less special.
“My opinion is that the World Cup is the World Cup, it’s a special thing because it is every four years. If you have it every two years, it can start to be normal and I want to say that is not normal”, Mbappe said.
“It is something amazing, maybe you play [in a World Cup] one time in your life. I agree with Robert when we talk about performance, we already play 60 games in the year, you have the Euros, you have the World Cup, we now have the Nations League, so many competitions.
“We are happy to play but when it’s too much, it’s too much. We have to recover, we have to stay relaxed.
“If people want to have quality in the game… if they just want to see some games on the TV, of course, we’re going to play.
“But if they want to see quality games, to see emotion, to see this type of thing that makes the beauty of football too, we have to respect the health of the players.”
Mbappe speaks out against Infantino’s plans for World Cups every two years pic.twitter.com/dNpPNLy0ws
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) December 27, 2021
During the 2021 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, Robert Lewandowski won the ‘Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year’ and the ‘TikTok Fans Player of the Year’. On the other hand, Kylian Mbappe won the Best Men’s Player of the Year award.
Robert Lewandowski of Bayern and Poland crowned TIKTOK FANS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR and winner of MARADONA AWARD at Globe Soccer Awards 2021 👑 @lewy_official @fcbayern @pzpn_pl @dubaisc #Lewandowski #RL9 @90pluskora #globesoccer pic.twitter.com/Dip2WdOh3g
— Globe Soccer Awards (@Globe_Soccer) December 27, 2021
🏆 Congratulations to Robert Lewandowski on winning the Maradona Award for best goalscorer at Globe Soccer Awards 2021 👏@lewy_official @fcbayern @pzpn_pl @dubaisc #Lewandowski #RL9 #globesoccer pic.twitter.com/BIpVx14Gtu
— Globe Soccer Awards (@Globe_Soccer) December 27, 2021
