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Kylian Mbappe is currently dealing with the intense spotlight that comes with leading the Real Madrid attack — a role once held by club legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite beginning his tenure in Spain with impressive performances, the French forward has faced accusations of arrogance and claims that his presence unsettles the team’s balance, echoing the debates that surrounded the Portuguese legend during his time at the Bernabeu.

Mbappe labelled ‘arrogant’ unfairly

Former Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has come out in defence of Mbappe, arguing that the Frenchman is being unfairly criticised. Since completing his highly anticipated move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid, Mbappe has been under heavy scrutiny, with some observers suggesting that his departure has helped PSG improve while he adjusts to life in Spain.

However, Van der Vaart believes those accusations are misplaced. Speaking to Aceodds, the Dutchman said, “When people say Mbappe is arrogant, it annoys me a bit. People are talking now because PSG have won two Champions League titles, and everyone is saying you can see he was the problem. Don’t get me wrong — PSG have many good players, but not one absolute world star. He was that world star at the club. When you play with someone like him, other good players sometimes hide a bit. He was under pressure and got the blame when PSG didn’t win.”

Comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo

Mbappe’s current situation mirrors what Ronaldo experienced during his Real Madrid years. Van der Vaart, who shared the pitch with Ronaldo in the Spanish capital, noted that having a “mega-star” in the team often changes how others play, sometimes negatively impacting team cohesion. He feels Mbappe is now facing a similar dynamic to what defined Ronaldo’s time at the club.

“At a club as big as Real Madrid, everyone gets criticised harshly,” Van der Vaart said. “When Ronaldo played there and didn’t win, he always got the blame. From my experience, it’s not ideal to have only one major star. I was a number ten, and even if I had a better option, if Ronaldo was on the left, everyone passed the ball to him — which isn’t always good. It’s tough managing a big star, but you have to, because Ronaldo scored 60 goals a season, and Mbappe is doing the same now.”

Backing Real Madrid’s goal machine

Despite the criticism, Mbappe has maintained his status as a constant goal threat for Los Blancos. Yet, some Real Madrid supporters remain unconvinced by his overall influence. Van der Vaart emphasised that the focus should be on the entire squad rather than isolating Mbappe, arguing that his presence actually eases the pressure on his teammates.

Reflecting on Mbappe’s role, Van der Vaart added, “Now that he’s gone from PSG, the pressure is shared among the rest. It’s easier for them now. He always scored loads of goals, just as he’s doing at Real Madrid. He carried the pressure to score. Real Madrid fans keep criticising him, and I don’t understand why. He was, by far, their best player last season! The rest of the team didn’t perform well enough. He kept scoring, and if you keep performing at that level all the time, it’s exhausting. It frustrates me when people say Mbappe is nothing — that’s simply not true.”

World Cup ambitions and personal honours

Looking ahead to international football, Van der Vaart expressed confidence that Mbappe will silence his detractors when he returns to represent France. He believes Les Bleus can capture another World Cup title and expects Mbappe to claim more individual accolades, even with strong competition from Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane.

“I’m backing France to win the World Cup,” Van der Vaart said. “I hope Mbappe becomes the best player of the tournament, especially after all the criticism that he’s not working hard or contributing enough. I’m 100% sure he’ll be at the top. France are incredibly strong — they could field three different teams and still be contenders. I’d pick Mbappe for the Golden Boot, but my friend Harry Kane could also win it. I don’t know how he does it, but he always scores unbelievable goals. So, I’ll go with Harry Kane for the Golden Boot and Mbappe for the Golden Ball.”