Crystals in Mbappe’s socks?! French Sports Minister sparks outrage with bizarre World Cup gifts!

World Cup 2026 Today at 13:13

Khaled Hegazy

News Editor

16.06.26 15:00 World Cup

France

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Senegal

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French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari sparked outrage on Wednesday 10 Jun by gifting Les Bleus strange lucky stones ahead of their 2026 World Cup flight.

France is heading to the United States with mission, reclaiming the world title they captured in 2018 and agonizingly lost to Argentina via a penalty shootout at Qatar 2022.

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Crystals in the match socks

According to the French newspaper Canard Enchaîné, the minister handed Kylian Mbappe and his teammates two small gemstones each, one blue and one rock crystal.

Ferrari claimed these gems possess energizing properties that reduce anxiety, boost confidence and even soothe muscle pain. In a move that stunned onlookers, she urged manager Didier Deschamps and his players to tuck these stones inside their match socks throughout the entire tournament.

Backlash & social media mockery

Ferrari who joined the government last October, defended the gesture by explaining that a supporter gave her a similar protective stone during an election campaign 20 year ago.

Despite her intentions to bring luck to the squad, the incident immediately triggered a massive wave of mockery across social media.

Fans and pundits alike ridiculed the move, heavily questioning whether new age healing crystals belong anywhere near elite international football.

Football superstitions are nothing new

While Ferrari’s crystals caused a stir online, the French national team is no stranger to bizarre off pitch beliefs.

Former manager Raymond Domenech famously integrated astrology into his squad selections during his controversial tenure from 2004 to 2010.

He notoriously distrusted players with the Scorpio zodiac sign, most notably freezing out Arsenal legend Robert Pires at the peak of his career, and publicly admitted his fear of relying on Leos in his defensive line.

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