Swedish Rape Inquiry Into Mbappé Closed Without Charges

Authorities in Sweden have officially closed an inquiry into an alleged rape case associated with football star Kylian Mbappé, confirming no charges will be filed due to insufficient evidence.

Swedish prosecutors have brought an end to an investigation into a case of alleged rape that was previously connected to French football captain Kylian Mbappé. Marina Chirakova, a representative from the Swedish Prosecution Authority, announced that the inquiry had concluded as there was a "lack of evidence" to proceed. Notably, Mbappé was never named or formally accused by the prosecutors throughout the investigation process.

When the allegations first emerged in October, Mbappé's attorney indicated that the athlete was preparing to pursue a defamation claim in light of the media's unsubstantiated claims. The football sensation referred to the accusations as "fake news." The inquiry looked into an alleged incident that reportedly occurred at a hotel in Stockholm on October 10, coinciding with Mbappé's visit to the city. Several Swedish media outlets had connected him to the case, prompting police to search the Bank hotel where he had been staying and seize items as potential evidence.

In a recent interview on the French television program Clique, Mbappé expressed his surprise at the inquiry, stating, "I haven't received anything, no summons... I'm not involved." His legal representative had earlier denounced the media allegations as defamatory, asserting that Mbappé is consistently surrounded by personnel that ensure his safety and mitigate his exposure to risk.

On the sports front, Mbappé recently marked a milestone by netting his 50th Champions League goal, having transitioned to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) earlier this year. Not only did he win the World Cup as a teenager in 2018, but he also featured prominently in the 2022 final despite France finishing as runners-up to Argentina. At PSG, he was part of a star-studded lineup alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar and received notable accolades, finishing third in the recent Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Men's Player awards.