France’s Best Argument Against Racism Isn’t Working
The article argues that the success of multicultural icons like Kylian Mbappé and Victor Wembanyama has failed to curb the rise of ethnic resentment in France. Despite their popularity, the far-right National Rally party continues to gain political momentum.
Why it matters
It challenges the assumption that cultural representation alone can resolve deep-seated political and racial divisions in Western societies.
The country’s most beloved men are paragons of diversity, but ethnic resentment is still winning.
Getty August 9, 2026, 9 AM ET Share Save Last month, the French striker Kylian Mbappé recorded the 22nd goal of his World Cup career during the bronze-medal match, establishing himself, at the age of 27, as the greatest scorer in tournament history. Even though the French national team, Les Bleus, failed to win the championship, Mbappé has become one of the country’s two most celebrated figures. At the final the next day, the camera panned across the audience and easily found the other one: Victor Wembanyama, the 22-year-old, 7-foot-4 basketball player who is widely considered to be the future of the NBA. Their success points to a stark irony: France’s most beloved men reflect a demographic shift that a growing share of their country rejects.
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