The 1998 World Cup winner did not hold back in his assessment of Mbappe in that semi-final tussle with La Roja, and believes the 27-year-old failed to step up to the plate.
Speaking exclusively to Freebets.com, Leboeuf said: "I'm not a big fan of the Ballon d'Or - I don't like individual awards in a collective sport. But Mbappe is a great individual player with great skill and incredible confidence.
“If he doesn't understand that he has to work for the team, he will never get the Ballon d'Or because his team will never win anything.
'Mbappe will never win a Ballon d'Or if he doesn't work for the team'
“You win competitions like the World Cup and Champions League through team effort - everybody sweats for each other.
“During this World Cup, Mbappe was coming back into position, winning the ball - everything was perfect. But in that game against Spain, there was individual failure.
“Maybe he has changed his attitude and maybe it will work out the way he wants to for Real Madrid. But if he wants the Ballon d'Or, he needs to help his teammates and that's what will make Real Madrid better."
Leboeuf then reflected generally on a France side which ultimately fell short at this year’s finals, but believes many of these players are still young enough to make an impact in 2030.
When asked whether this France team ranked amongst sides that failed to win the World Cup, he replied: "Mbappe answered that question just before the loss against Spain. He said: 'We have a great team, but so far, we've won nothing. It's only when we win the World Cup that maybe you can say we're the greatest.'
“I put it to my colleagues at ESPN - watching them play, I said this may be the best team ever. But they have to win. We talked about England's and Belgium’s golden generations — they won nothing and won't be remembered. That's sad, but they won't be remembered.
“I really hope this France team will take over. They have some very good young players on the bench. That team will keep on growing and will be a very big threat for the 2030 World Cup."
It was a sad end to an otherwise glittering spell in charge of Les Bleus for Didier Deschamps, but Leboeuf spoke glowingly about his 14 years at the helm.
"I will never criticise somebody who played two World Cups, won one, and won a European Championship. Since '98 we've played four World Cup finals — that's insane for a small country like us,” he explained.
“Since Deschamps took over in 2014, the worst position he was in was the quarter-final. It says a lot about what he brought. He was helped by a great generation of football players, with so many progressing through French academies.
“Deschamps made sure that players understood a national team is not just a selection - you have to behave like you're in a club. That is what Aime Jacquet did with us, and that is Deschamps' legacy. If he'd won this World Cup, he would have been named the greatest of the greatest."
Deschamps’ final match in charge will be the third-place play-off against England on Saturday, and it is fair to say that Leboeuf is hardly looking forward to the game.
"I never understood the third-place game in football,” he added.
“The players who lost are devastated - they wanted the final. They don't have any thoughts whatsoever for a game like that. You can get injured and you're fed up with football.
“You just want 10 days before thinking about your club again. I don't understand that game. I have sympathy for the players on both sides."
