Kylian Mbappe has been widely praised for his decision to give his all of his match fees to charity this summer.
Mbappe doesn’t want to be paid for representing his country at the World Cup, instead opting to give any earnings to the Premiers de Cordees charity with which he has been working for some time.
The French forward, who became the first teenager to score two goals in a World Cup match since Pele in 1958 with his brace against Argentina on Saturday, has announced himself on the global stage while the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi failed to make it past the Round of 16.
Mbappe’s generosity has been commended after it came to light that he would be donating the entirety of his participation wage to charity and it is indeed a wonderful gesture.
But England legends Gary Neville and Gary Lineker have been quick to remind supporters that Mbappe is not alone with his kindness. Both Neville and Lineker have revealed that England’s players have been giving their match fees to charity for several years but it’s just not widely reported.
This is great and join in with your applause. Also worth pointing out that all England players give their match fee to charity. https://t.co/ZldSbWLPXo
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/1013330817043574784
The relationship between the English national team and the country’s media is a strange one because the press tends to focus on the negatives of a bunch of professional athletes rather than publicise the positives.
This is perhaps best highlighted by the fact that so many English supporters had no idea that the players were so generous with their participation money.
Honestly did not know that. Funny how the good things of our own team don’t get a mention, yet we laud similar things in others…. ?
— Tim from Hull (@timfromhull) July 1, 2018
I find it bizarre that a French player does something wonderful and it makes the English news, However it seems our players have been doing this for years and no one ever reports it? They don’t hesitate to report “negative” stories about our players though.
— Benny (@benny7tokarski) July 1, 2018
Thanks Gary, I had no idea that @England players donated their match fees…I’m now even more fuzzier for our team now!
— Wayne Davies (@waynedavies1967) June 30, 2018
Good to know, thank you for highlighting it!
— Helen (@Helen_frankl) July 1, 2018
They should make that fact better known. Many think greedy and only money motivated. Good lads !
— Paul Forrest (@paulforrest4) June 30, 2018
A good deed dies when it’s spoken about…respect to the boys???????⚽️???????but only contempt for the written press in our country…bereft of class & bankrupt of any morals residing in the gutter…??♂️
— Garry Hawke (@RigsbyRupert) July 1, 2018
I remember seeing this years ago, funny how we are quick to forget our own players doing it but celebrate others
— Chris Carr (@chriscarr316) July 1, 2018
