Former Real Madrid manager Jorge Valdano has stepped forward to defend Kylian Mbappe, claiming that the French forward is being unfairly criticised. The Argentine legend believes that the narrative around Mbappe has turned toxic since his much-publicised move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Mbappe still the best in the world
Kylian Mbappe has faced intense scrutiny during his adjustment period at Real Madrid, but Jorge Valdano insists that the forward’s talent is beyond question. Despite ongoing debate about his performances in Spain, the ex-Real Madrid boss was quick to highlight Mbappe’s extraordinary achievements with France as evidence of his world-class status.
In an interview with Movistar, Valdano passionately dismissed the criticism, saying: “He has won a World Cup and finished runner-up in another, scoring three goals in the final. We are not talking about a fraud; we are talking about perhaps the best player in the world right now.”
Standing up against unfair criticism
The discussion around Mbappe has grown more heated as Paris Saint-Germain continue to thrive in the Champions League without him, while Real Madrid have endured a relatively inconsistent season. Valdano believes the Frenchman is being unjustly blamed for the team’s shortcomings and for the contrasting results between his current and former clubs.
Valdano described the criticism as a form of mistreatment, considering Mbappe’s impressive statistics since arriving in Spain. He added: “To blame him for everything good that happens to Paris Saint-Germain and everything bad that happens to Real Madrid, when he is the top scorer in the league, seems like abuse to me.”
Continued support from Real Madrid
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has also publicly defended Mbappe, referring to him as the club’s “best player” despite a challenging campaign at the Bernabeu. Perez addressed the disappointment of a season without major trophies, attributing it to a demanding schedule rather than the French superstar’s performance.
Even after finishing second to Barcelona in La Liga and being eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals, Perez refused to criticise Mbappe. “Kylian is the best player of Madrid at this moment,” Perez told La Sexta.
Shining despite Madrid’s trophy drought
Although Real Madrid ended the season without silverware, Mbappe clinched the 2025-26 Pichichi Trophy after scoring in Real Madrid’s 4-2 win over Athletic Club on the final day. His goal brought his tally to 25 league goals for the season, finishing ahead of Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi, who netted 23 times.
The French forward also topped La Liga in total shots with 63, showcasing his consistent attacking presence. This achievement makes him the first Real Madrid player since Cristiano Ronaldo (2014 and 2015) to win the Pichichi award in consecutive seasons.
