Real Madrid star faces scrutiny over World Cup bonus gift to French riot police
Kylian Mbappé is no stranger to global headlines, but his latest appearance in the news is for reasons few saw coming. The Real Madrid forward is facing legal scrutiny after gifting €180,000 to five French riot police officers who were part of his security detail during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The donation, which was part of the World Cup bonus Mbappé received for representing France during their run to the final, is now under investigation by France’s financial intelligence unit, Tracfin. The watchdog is examining whether the payment, which was split between four officers (€30,000 each) and their commanding officer (€60,300), complied with proper financial protocols.
While the intention behind the donation appears to have been one of gratitude, the scale and structure of the transfer raised red flags with authorities. The central concern is whether the payment should have been declared under French financial regulations—and whether any continuing association between Mbappé and the officers could be interpreted as compensation for future services.
Jean-Baptiste Soufron, legal counsel for the officer who received the largest portion of the donation, has pushed back firmly. Speaking to French media, Soufron stressed that the money was “completely lawful,” pointing out that the payment was made via personal check and fell outside the scope of mandatory declaration.
“This donation received for the 2022 World Cup was made by check and did not need to be declared,” Soufron explained. “It makes no sense to make a retrospective link with the interventions carried out by my client in 2023 with Mbappé during public trips.”
One key element under review is Mbappé’s visit to Cameroon in 2023. One of the five officers who received the donation accompanied him on that trip, fueling speculation about a possible connection between the World Cup bonus payment and continued private security work. Soufron denied any such link, stating that the officer’s presence in Cameroon was part of his standard duties as head of security for the French Football Federation (FFF), and that no additional compensation was involved.
Mbappé has not publicly commented on the matter and appears unconcerned by the ongoing investigation. The 25-year-old is currently on a short summer break following Real Madrid’s disappointing Club World Cup campaign, which ended in a shocking 4-0 semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain—his former club.
He is expected to return to Madrid for pre-season training in early August, with his full focus on helping Los Blancos mount a strong domestic and European challenge in 2025/26. Real Madrid open their La Liga campaign on August 19 against Osasuna, with Mbappé set to play a pivotal role after his blockbuster move from PSG earlier this summer.
While the investigation into the donation continues, those close to the player maintain that Mbappé’s gesture was nothing more than a personal token of appreciation—one that, according to his legal team, is entirely within his rights.
