Kylian Mbappé returns to lead France against Croatia after a six-month absence and has openly admitted to past missteps in his role as captain.

The Real Madrid star will wear the armband for Les Bleus in Split for the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final on Thursday, with the return fixture set for Sunday at the Stade de France.

It will mark his first start for France since their 3-1 defeat to Italy on 6th September, a match played at Parc des Princes, the home of his former club, Paris Saint-Germain. Reflecting on that period, Mbappé acknowledged that he did not manage the situation well.

"I am self-aware enough to recognise what I do well and what I do poorly. I know that people were not happy with my performances on and off the pitch, and I was not handling things correctly," Mbappé admitted in a pre-match press conference. "I have no issue with self-reflection. I have never had a problem accepting criticism when it is fair and well-reasoned."

Back in September, both his form for Real Madrid and the national team came under scrutiny. At the time, he dismissed public opinion, stating that it was "the least of my worries." He also played down concerns over his return to PSG’s stadium, declaring, "I don’t care" about the reception he would receive, following months of tension with the club’s hierarchy and fans.

However, six months on, Mbappé now concedes that some of the criticism directed at him was justified.

"I did not play well against Italy, and my pre-match press conference did not sit well with people, because as captain, I failed to bring unity," he admitted. "I accept that, but what matters now is moving forward and ensuring I do not repeat the same mistakes."

Mbappé Retains Captaincy Despite Criticism

The 26-year-old remains third on France’s all-time scoring list with 48 goals, but he has scored in only two of his last 12 international appearances. There had been speculation over whether he would retain the captaincy, yet after discussions with manager Didier Deschamps, he has continued in the role.

The 2018 World Cup winner was omitted from France’s Nations League fixtures against Israel and Italy last November, with Deschamps stating that it was "better that way" due to Mbappé’s physical and mental struggles at the time.

He was also absent from a previous international call-up due to a minor thigh injury, yet still featured for Real Madrid, a decision that angered many France supporters and raised questions over his club-versus-country priorities.

Following a challenging start to his Madrid career, Mbappé has since regained his scoring touch, netting 31 goals in 44 matches this season.

"I feel good, and I am happy to be playing football," he said. "I am pleased to be here to help the team."

With only Thierry Henry (51 goals) and Olivier Giroud (57) ahead of him in France’s all-time scoring rankings, Mbappé remains on course to cement his legacy.

Reuniting with Dembélé in Attack

Mbappé is set to be reunited in attack with Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé, who is currently the top scorer in Ligue 1.

Both players have already surpassed the 30-goal mark this season, but while Mbappé has done so for the seventh consecutive campaign, Dembélé has reached this milestone for the first time in his career.

"He’s another weapon in our arsenal," Mbappé said of Dembélé, who is also a close friend. "His current form gives us even more attacking options and makes us even more unpredictable for our opponents."

The Real Madrid forward is relishing the prospect of linking up with Dembélé against Croatia.

"We just need to combine well," he said. "But we know each other inside out, and we enjoy playing together."

Despite his recent goal-scoring exploits at club level, Dembélé still has a modest international record, with just six goals in 53 appearances for France. Nonetheless, Mbappé remains confident in their partnership as Les Bleus look to progress to the Nations League semi-finals.