Beaten 3-0 by France in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, Anthony Elanga was given Kylian Mbappé’s shirt. The Manchester United forward recounts an exchange in French, against a backdrop of shared Cameroonian roots.
The scene was caught by the cameras after the final whistle. On Tuesday, France knocked out Sweden 3-0 in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, carried by a Kylian Mbappé brace, according to RMC Sport, relayed by the site 24直播网. On the pitch, the France forward and captain spoke with Anthony Elanga, the Swedish Manchester United forward.
Elanga gave his version of that exchange to the Swedish outlet Expressen. He recounts a conversation in French and a shirt given away, two gestures that point back to a shared Cameroonian origin.
“He gave me his shirt”
“I just wished him good luck, him and his team. He’s Cameroonian too. We spoke in French,” Elanga told Expressen. The 24-year-old Swede continued: “He gave me his shirt, that was really kind. I’m very happy. He’s of Cameroonian origin and so am I. There’s a link between us, it’s a great feeling.”
The Manchester United forward did not hide his admiration for the night’s opponent: “They’re a very good team, maybe the biggest favourites at this World Cup.” For his first World Cup, he sees Sweden go out in the round of 16, reports RMC Sport.
Cameroon as an inheritance
The link Elanga speaks of runs through the fathers. The Manchester United player is the son of Joseph Elanga, a former Cameroon international who had spells at Malmö between 2000 and 2005, then again in 2010, according to RMC Sport. On the French side, Kylian Mbappé also has Cameroonian origins, through his father Wilfried, the same source states.
On the pitch, the France captain is moving through the tournament at an impressive rate. With 6 goals in 4 matches, he shares top spot in the scoring charts with Lionel Messi. And his 18 World Cup goals leave him behind only the Argentine (19) in the history of the competition, again according to RMC Sport.
Before that brace against Sweden, he had already scored twice, against Senegal and Iraq, in the group stage. Figures that give weight to Elanga’s compliment about France.
What comes next
Mbappé and France now await their quarter-final opponent. Meanwhile, the other attraction in the bracket remains Messi’s Argentina, up against Cape Verde in the round of 16 on Saturday at dawn, Beijing time, according to RMC Sport.
For Elanga, the World Cup ends here. The son of Joseph Elanga, he had Cameroon in his family history; he is now playing his first World Cup with Sweden.