In a strategic redirection from race and ethnicity to class and status issues, the far-right, represented by Le Pen, began invoking the resentment seen in the yellow-vest protests that emerged post-World Cup victory. She shifted her rhetoric away from criticizing ungrateful immigrants and instead targeted France’s celebrated athletes, describing them like her father once criticized the elite, disconnected from ordinary citizens.
In 2024, this populist stance faced backlash from top athletes who counteracted the National Rally’s regional election successes. French captain Kylian Mbappé described the victory as “catastrophic,” highlighting the threat of extreme forces gaining power.
Jordan Bardella, leading the National Rally and a Le Pen protégé, responded to Mbappé by criticizing wealthy sports figures for lecturing those struggling financially, highlighting the disconnect between their lifestyles.
As Bardella and Le Pen anticipate next year’s presidential candidate selection, influenced by an impending court decision on Le Pen’s embezzlement-related eligibility, both are positioned well according to polls.
Despite policy disagreements, Bardella and Le Pen are aligned in their stance against the national team — now World Cup favorites — criticizing wealthy celebrities for advising the French on their voting choices, a sentiment poorly received by the public.
In response to Mbappé’s criticism in a Vanity Fair interview, Le Pen emphasized that those living comfortably away from insecurity should adopt a more reserved approach in political discourse.
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