LAMINE YAMAL'S THREE-WORD MESSAGE IGNITES BALLON D’OR FEUD WITH KYLIAN MBAPPÉ

The two Clásico rivals are in pursuit of soccer’s greatest individual prize.

Lamine Yamal (left) has not hidden his desire to win the Ballon d’Or. | Alex Caparros/Getty Images (Yamal), Diego Souto/Getty Images (Mbappé

While Lamine Yamal named Kylian Mbappé as one of the top two players in the world over the past 12 months, the Barcelona star left no doubt over his pick for the 2026 Ballon d’Or: “I deserve it.”

The release of the 30-man shortlist for this year’s award has sparked pushes from some of the world’s top players. Mbappé recently insisted there had been nobody better than him over the past season, insisting he feels good about his chances of winning the award.

Mbappé is undoubtedly among the favorites to win, but the Real Madrid forward is joined towards the top of the rankings by Yamal. The 19-year-old contributed 24 goals and 18 assists for La Liga winners Barcelona and then helped Spain to World Cup glory this summer.

“Who would I give it to? The best in the world,” Yamal told Movistar+. “Who are they going to give it to? That’s a very long discussion.

“I honestly think that maybe there are two of us who are the best in the world. And I think I deserve it this year because of what I’ve won. Because for me, Mbappé and I are the two best in the world. For me, it’s very clear, and everyone who watches the games knows it.”

Barcelona Vice-President Calls for ‘Justice’ in Ballon d’Or Race

Yamal has plenty of support in Barcelona. | Pedro Salado/Getty Images

Yamal’s belief that he deserves to win the Ballon d’Or was, predictably, backed up by Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste.

“Lamine Yamal is a young boy who is giving a lot of hope to young people around the world,” Yuste insisted. “He has a genius that at his age is incredible, it has been many years since I have seen a player like him. Therefore, I believe and wish that justice will be done with this well-deserved Ballon d’Or.

“Simply, for giving so much happiness to so many boys and girls around the world and to us who like football, justice has to be done, and he deserves everything and more for being the way he is and for making so many people happy.”

The Third Contender Yamal and Mbappé Are Forgetting

Harry Kane enjoyed a stunning 2025–26 season. | Uwe Anspach/picture alliance/Getty Images

Yamal and Mbappé have, while staking their own claims for Ballon d’Or glory, been very complimentary to each other, proudly boasting their confidence in their abilities.

The problem is, however, neither player is actually viewed as the favorite.

Leading the polls currently is Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who netted 73 goals for club and country across the 2025–26 season to fly right to the top of the rankings ahead of next month’s award ceremony.

Yamal and Mbappé may sit clear as the two best players in the world, but the Ballon d’Or is designed to celebrate the best player over the previous season, and Kane’s numbers make him incredibly hard to ignore.

Working in Kane’s favor is Bayern’s success. Europe’s Golden Boot winner helped Bayern to a domestic treble and the semifinals of the Champions League, where he scored in both legs in one of the greatest ties in competition history against eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Yamal’s Barcelona won La Liga and the Spanish Supercopa, before he played a subdued role in Spain’s World Cup triumph. That puts the youngster clear of Mbappé, who ended the year without silverware but did win the World Cup’s Golden Boot and became the leading scorer in tournament history.

Team success often plays into the final Ballon d’Or verdict, which could give Kane or Yamal the edge over Mbappé.

- TOM GOTT

2026 BALLON D'OR FULL LIST OF NOMINEES REVEALED AS HARRY KANE EMERGES AS FAVOURITE

 

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The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or have been announced, setting up a race that includes some of soccer’s biggest stars and gives voters plenty to consider after a World Cup year.

Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland and Rodri are among the players competing for the award alongside reigning winner Ousmane Dembélé.

This year’s voting carries an added wrinkle because performances at the 2026 World Cup fall within the eligibility period. That has reshaped the race after the summer tournament, with Kane sitting atop the odds while Yamal has gained ground after helping Spain win the World Cup.

The winner will be revealed on Oct. 26 in London.

Harry Kane Leads 2026 Ballon d’Or Odds After Huge Season

Kane enters the race as the clear betting favorite, with his odds giving him a 67% implied probability of winning his first Ballon d’Or, according to Covers.com.

The Bayern Munich striker has both individual numbers and team accomplishments working in his favor.

Kane scored 50 goals across all competitions while helping Bayern capture a domestic double, ending his long wait for major team silverware. He also helped England make a deep run at the World Cup.

Those accomplishments have put Kane in a commanding position ahead of the vote, but he is not running unopposed.

Yamal has experienced one of the biggest swings in the market after playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup victory.

The Barcelona star previously climbed 22 percentage points to a 26% implied probability before settling at 17%. His performance on soccer’s biggest international stage has helped turn him into one of Kane’s most prominent challengers.

Rodri, Yamal’s Spain teammate, is also in contention at 6%. The Manchester City midfielder helped anchor Spain during its championship run and has gained support despite playing a position that does not typically produce the eye-catching scoring numbers of the award’s attacking contenders.

Kylian Mbappé Loses Ground Despite 42-Goal Season

Mbappé remains one of the biggest names in the Ballon d’Or field, but his odds fell after the World Cup.

The Real Madrid star dropped 18 percentage points to approximately 14% following the tournament.

Mbappé scored 42 goals for Real Madrid last season, but the club did not win a trophy and exited the Champions League early. France also missed the World Cup final before losing a 6-4 match against England for third place.

Despite those results, Mbappé recently made it clear that he believes his individual season belongs in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

He said it would be a “good year for him” to capture the award.

Lionel Messi is further down the market at 3% despite his team reaching another World Cup final.

Ballon d’Or Winner Will Be Decided by International Journalists

France Football and UEFA will co-organize the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Oct. 26.

A jury of international journalists representing the top 100 countries in the latest FIFA rankings selects the men’s winner. Each voter selects a top 10, with players receiving between 15 and one point based on their placement.

Dembélé won the 2025 Ballon d’Or with 1,380 points, accounting for 92% of the total points available.

The 2026 ceremony will also recognize the top young player, goalkeeper and club.

Yamal is among the 10 nominees for Men’s Young Talent of the Year, joining Pau Cubarsi, Lennart Karl, Warren Zaire-Emery and others.

The Yashin Trophy field for goalkeeper of the year  Thibaut Courtois, David Raya, Unai Simón, Yassine Bonou and Emiliano Martínez.

Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodo/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain have been nominated for Men’s Club of the Year.

- Perry Miller Carpenter

GOLDEN BOOT WINNERS AT EVERY WORLD CUP

 

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ STATS FOR FRANCE

 

MICHAEL OLISE STOPPED FROM CELEBRATING FRANCE GOAL DUE TO LITTLE-KNOWN FIFA RULE

France cruised through their World Cup semi-final against Morocco in Boston.

France claimed a place in the World Cup semi-finals on Thursday with a straightforward quarter-final win over Morocco.

Les Bleus won 2-0 in Boston thanks to two goals in seven minutes in the second half of a match they dominated from start to finish.

Captain Kylian Mbappe curled in the first after seeing his earlier penalty saved by Bono in the first half. The Moroccan goalkeeper couldn't then keep out the Ousmane Dembele shot that doubled the lead.

France will now face Spain or Belgium in the World Cup's first semi-final in Dallas on Tuesday and are just 90 minutes away from a third consecutive World Cup final.

Their second goal against Morocco sparked joyous celebrations on the touchline but one player was notably unable to join in.

Fans noticed that Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, one of France's star performers under Didier Deschamps this summer, was prevented from joining the mint-green huddle by substitute goalkeeper Brice Samba.

The Rennes man's quick thinking might have made all the difference and revealed his knowledge of the first clause of Law 8 in the Laws of the Game.

Law 8 states that: "For every kick-off, all players, except for the player taking the kick-off, must be in their own half of the field of play."

That only applies to players on the pitch. With no players in the opposition half to actively prevent the restart, France would have fulfilled the requirements of a kick-off and Morocco would have been permitted to get the game back underway without a single French player in their way.

By stopping Olise's charge towards the celebrating pack, Samba ensured that 'all players' were not in their own half and thus denied Morocco the right to crack on unhindered and halve the deficit with more than 20 minutes left on the clock.

Staying switched-on to that possibility is something France have demonstrated before.

A similar incident involving France unfolded in the 2022 World Cup final, when Dayot Upamecano was shoved back onto the pitch by Theo Hernandez after one of Mbappe's goals.

Mbappe scored three times in the final four years ago but France were beaten on penalties by Argentina, potential final opponents again in the current tournament.

Kylian Mbappe is tearing it up in front of goal

Les Bleus won their second World Cup in Russia in 2018, a success that made Didier Deschamps one of the just three men to win the World Cup both as a player and as manager.

They beat Morocco in the semi-finals in 2022 and made short work of them again in Boston on Wednesday.

Mbappe and his team are flying. His goal against the Atlas Lions was his 20th in 20 World Cup matches, putting him one goal behind record scorer Lionel Messi.

The Argentina captain's goals have been scored at a slower rate and Mbappe's rise to the top of the pile now seems inevitable.

Like Messi, Mbappe has eight goals in the 2026 tournament. His strikes against Senegal, Iraq, Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco have put both the captain and his team within reach of history.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

- Chris Nee

HIGHEST -PAID FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN 2026

 

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ CONDEMNS 'DESPICABLE' PARAGUAYAN SENATOR OVER VILE RACIST RANT AFTER FRANCE WORLD CUP CLASH

 

France edged out Paraguay to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals (Picture: Getty)

Kylian Mbappe has hit back after Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla targeted him with a sickening racist attack on social media following France’s 1-0 win at the World Cup.

Mbappe’s 70th-minute penalty proved decisive in Saturday’s bad-tempered last-16 clash between Les Bleus, the two-time winners, and one of the surprise packages of this summer’s tournament in Paraguay.

Paraguay’s physical approach drew widespread criticism from fans and pundits alike, with ex-England goalkeeper Joe Hart branding the side’s ugly tactics and gamesmanship an ‘absolute disgrace’.

Before a ball had even been kicked, Paraguayan legend Jose Luis Chilabert had caused uproar with some vile remarks in his homeland, in which he claimed his country were essentially facing an ‘African team’ in Philadelphia.

The unsavoury war of words did not cease once France had safely secured their spot in the quarter-finals, and just days after Chilavert’s outburst, it was Amarilla who made headlines for all the wrong reasons with a shocking rant on X, formerly Twitter.

Reacting to a photograph of Mbappe supposedly celebrating in the face of Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, Amarilla, of Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, wrote: ‘The brute didn’t even learn to write.

‘Instead of mother’s milk, he sucked on coconuts, and the most educated thing he heard were chimpanzees.

Amarilla suggested Mbappe had been raised by ‘chimpanzees’ in a vile social media outburst (Picture: Getty)

Mbappe is the joint-leading goalscorer at the tournament (Picture: Getty

‘You should’ve shown him the finger, Orlando Gill; I do it in the senate and nothing happens!!!’

Twenty-four hours on from Amarilla’s despicable rant, a defiant Mbappe issued his response, in which he claimed the politician had overshadowed Paraguay’s achievements at the World Cup with her ‘brazen racism’.

‘Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position,’ Mbappe wrote on X.

‘You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.

Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.

‘I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.

It comes after the French Football Federation released a statement condemning Chilavert’s pre-match remarks, with the former Paraguay goalkeeper labelled a ‘disgrace’.

‘I condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist remarks made by Jose Luis Chilavert against the French national team, which undermine the values of respect, fraternity, and diversity in our football,’ FFF president Philippe Diallo said.

‘If he was once a great goalkeeper, this man has now fallen into disgrace.’

France – the 2022 runners-up – will resume their campaign versus Morocco at 9pm BST on Thursday, with a match against one of Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the USA awaiting the victor.

Mbappe is the joint-top scorer at this summer’s tournament alongside Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi, having scored seven goals in his five appearances for Les Bleus.

- Tom Olver

2026 WORLD CUP TOP SCORERS

 

FRENCH STAR KYLIAN MBAPPÉ REWRITES HISTORY | FIFA WORLD CUP 2026

 

MBAPPÉ BREAKS RONALDO'S RECORDS, REWRITES WORLD CUP HISTORY

Kylian Mbappé has once again proven why he is regarded as the defining footballer of his generation after smashing a string of records once held by his childhood idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, while simultaneously rewriting FIFA World Cup history.

The France captain delivered another breathtaking performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in Les Bleus' commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 to become the greatest goalscorer in World Cup knockout-stage history.

His latest double took his tally to 10 goals in World Cup knockout matches, eclipsing the long-standing record of nine and moving him clear of Brazilian legends Ronaldo Nazário and Leônidas, who had each scored eight in the competition's elimination rounds.

The achievement further cements Mbappé's growing reputation as football's ultimate big-game player. Reports also noted that his overall World Cup tally had risen to 18 goals, leaving him within touching distance of the all-time tournament scoring record.

The performance against Sweden was not just another victory for France. It marked yet another milestone in a career already overflowing with silverware, individual honours and records that many believed would stand for decades.

Away from international football, Mbappé has also been rewriting the history books at Real Madrid.

In his first full calendar year with the Spanish giants, the French forward broke Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic club record by scoring 59 goals in a single calendar year, surpassing the Portuguese legend's mark set in 2013.

The symbolic moment came on his 27th birthday when Mbappé converted a late penalty against Sevilla to draw level with Ronaldo before later moving ahead, celebrating with Ronaldo's famous "Siuuu" celebration—a heartfelt tribute to the player he has long described as his inspiration.

The remarkable scoring spree has underlined just how seamlessly Mbappé has adapted to life in Madrid following his highly anticipated move from Paris Saint-Germain.

His record-breaking campaign has not been limited to domestic football.

Earlier in the season, Mbappé also surpassed another Ronaldo benchmark in the UEFA Champions League by scoring 13 goals in a single group-stage campaign, breaking Ronaldo's previous record of 11 set during the 2015–16 season.

It is another indication that the French superstar is steadily dismantling records previously considered untouchable.

For years, comparisons between Mbappé, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated football debates.

Now, rather than merely being compared with the game's greatest icons, Mbappé is beginning to replace them at the top of the record books.

Still only 27 years old, the French captain continues to add to a career that already includes a FIFA World Cup title, a World Cup Golden Boot, multiple domestic league crowns and European honours.

France's progress at the ongoing World Cup also means more records could soon fall.

With the tournament entering its decisive stages, Mbappé remains one of the favourites for the Golden Boot, while France are among the strongest contenders to lift another world title.

Should Les Bleus continue their march, the man who once idolised Cristiano Ronaldo may soon own even more of the records that made the Portuguese legend one of football's immortals.

- TONY MBALLA

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ IS THE BEST EVER EUROPEAN ALL-TIME FIFA WORLD CUP GOALSCORER

 

GROUP STAGE TOP SCORERS | FIFA WORLD CUP 2026

 

FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 HAS 13 RECORDS SET OR BROKEN SO FAR 👀

 

FRANCE PUT ON A SHOW AS MBAPPÉ HITS A MILESTONE

 

MBAPPÉ AND FRANCE ARRIVE AT THEIR HOTEL IN BOSTON READY FOR WORLD CUP

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ EXPLOSIVE COMMENTS BRING REAL MADRID INTO THE OPEN

The forward had his say on recent controversies after the win over Oviedo.

Kylian Mbappé came off the bench in the second half of Thursday’s victory. | Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images

Kylian Mbappé told reporters that he is “the fourth-choice striker” at Real Madrid, in the aftermath of Thursday night’s 2–0 victory over Real Oviedo, adding to the off-field drama surrounding the club.

Madrid made light work of La Liga’s bottom club, sealing the win with goals from Gonzalo García and Jude Bellingham. However, it was still a tough night at the Bernabéu, as several stars faced jeers from the crowd in their first outing since the Clásico defeat that confirmed Barcelona’s title.

Mbappé started the match on the bench, having missed the two previous matches, including El Clásico, with a hamstring issue. The French superstar entered the pitch midway through the second half, but was greeted with a chorus of boos from the home support and was regularly whistled throughout the rest of the game.

The reaction comes as little surprise, given that millions people have signed a petition calling for Mbappé’s Real Madrid exit, amid a season mired in disappointed and controversy.

The striker, who was included as captain in France’s 26-man World Cup roster announced on Thursday, bagged the assist for Bellingham’s goal on 80 minutes, but couldn’t add to his league-leading tally of 24 this season.

Mbappé did, however, ensure he stole the headlines after the match.

Mbappé’s Candid Mixed Zone Appearance

🗣️ Mbappé sobre su suplencia frente al Real Oviedo: "Estoy muy bien. Hoy no he sido titular porque Arbeloa me ha dicho que soy el cuarto delantero de la plantilla".

#LALIGAenDAZN ⚽ pic.twitter.com/RBousiSOMQ

— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) May 14, 2026

When asked about his fitness after the match, Mbappé insisted he had been ready to start but was bumped down the pecking order by Álvaro Arbeloa.

“I’m 100% fine” he said. “I haven’t played because the manager told me I’m the fourth-choice striker in the squad behind [Franco] Mastantuono, Vini and Gonzalo. I was ready to start, it’s his decision and you always have to respect it. I’m not angry.”

The comments raised eyebrows, as the club’s highest-paid player continued to double down, speaking apparently without filter as he addressed his and Madrid’s situation, telling reporters in the mixed zone: “I prefer to speak here, with my own mouth. That way it’s clearer. My only responsibility is to play well and give everything for the badge.”

Asked what it’s like to be “fourth-choice,” Mbappé replied: “Ask the manager. What do you want me to say?

“I was ready to start, but it’s his decision. I can’t be angry with the manager. You always have to respect a manager’s opinion. I'll just work hard in training and matches, hoping to become a starter.”

In comments that appeared to be a direct slight on Arbeloa, Mbappé assessed Madrid’s disappointing season by saying: “We started the season well, in La Liga, in the Champions League ... but we lost it in the second half [of the campaign]. And it hurts a lot, because I feel we had a clear playing style and we let it slip away.”

Meanwhile, on the two managers he has played under this season, he said: “I have a great relationship with Xabi [Alonso], he’s going to be a great coach. But that’s in the past and we have to look ahead.

“I have no problem with Arbeloa. You have to respect him. You have to accept the coach’s philosophy, and I have to do my best to play ahead of Vini, Gonzalo and Mastantuono.”

When asked if he had been hurt by the manager’s recent comments, Mbappé joked: “I have French TV, I don't have Spanish TV at home. So I don’t know what he said!”

Arbeloa Insists ‘I Decide the Team’

Álvaro Arbeloa addressed Mbappé’s explosive claims in his post-match press conference. | Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto/Getty Images

In his post-match press conference, Arbeloa initially disputed Mbappé’s claims.

“He must not have understood correctly,” the Madrid boss insisted. “I don’t know what to tell you, I didn’t tell him he’s the fourth-choice striker.”

However, when pressed on the matter, Arbeloa hit back insisting he is the one responsible for team selection and the players need to live with it.

“If I don’t play him, he can’t play,” Arbeloa said. “I decide; I’m the coach. I spoke with him earlier, and I don’t know how he might have interpreted it. He shouldn’t have started today because it’s not a matter of life or death. We have a match on Sunday, and he’ll definitely be the starting striker.

“Seven days later, he’ll have earned his place as the starting striker. I decide who plays. I understand that whoever isn’t playing isn’t happy. I can understand that he’s not happy, but it’s a decision based on the circumstances. I didn’t want to take any risks. It was the most logical, common-sense thing to do.

“I said that a player who couldn’t even make the bench four days ago should come on in the second half. He’ll start on Sunday. Gonzalo deserved to play today. I understand that those who don’t start aren’t happy. But as long as I’m in this position, I’m going to make the decisions. If they like it, fine. If not, they can wait until next time.”

When asked about Mbappe’s comments that Madrid have fallen off in the second half of the season, Arbeloa snapped back at his No. 9.

“I’d be happy if he thinks that. He’s probably scored many more goals in the first half of the season than in the second,” Arbeloa concluded.

- Andrew Headspeath

'KYLIAN MBAPPÉ OUT' PETITION REACHES ALMOST SEVENTY MILLION SIGNATURES AMID REAL MADRID CRISIS

Getty Images Sport 

Kylian Mbappe’s dream move to Real Madrid is rapidly turning into a nightmare as the Frenchman struggles to find his feet in the Spanish capital. Despite arriving as the final piece of the Galactico puzzle, his presence has coincided with a dip in form for Alvaro arbeloa’s side, leading to unprecedented backlash from the global football community.

Frustration boils over at the Bernabeu

The honeymoon period for Mbappe at Real Madrid has officially ended, replaced by a sense of urgency and frustration that few could have predicted when he was unveiled in front of a packed Santiago Bernabeu last summer.

As Los Blancos struggle to keep pace in La Liga and show vulnerability in the Champions League, the finger of blame is increasingly being pointed at the former Paris Saint-Germain superstar.

Tactical imbalances have plagued Arbeloa since Mbappe's arrival, with the spanish coach struggling to fit both the Frenchman and Vinicius Junior into a cohesive front line.

This shift has affected more than the team's defensive stability, having also led to a perceived lack of chemistry in the final third that has left fans demanding immediate structural changes to save their season.

Getty Images Sport 

A digital protest of historic proportions

The depth of this dissatisfaction has manifested in a staggering digital protest, with an online petition calling for Mbappe’s departure reportedly reaching nearly 70 million signatures.

While the authenticity of every signature on such platforms can be difficult to verify, the sheer scale of the movement highlights a massive PR crisis for the player and a growing divide within the Madridista fan base.

The "Mbappe Out" movement has gained significant traction on social media, fuelled by viral clips of the striker's perceived lack of defensive work rate and missed clear-cut chances in high-stakes matches.

What lies ahead for the Frenchman?

Despite the noise and the tens of millions of digital signatures, Real Madrid’s hierarchy remains officially committed to making the Mbappe era a success. Florentino Perez spent years chasing the 25-year-old, and a departure so soon after his arrival remains highly improbable from a financial and political standpoint. However, the player himself is now under more pressure than ever to perform and silence his detractors on the pitch.

With crucial fixtures on the horizon, Mbappe must adapt his game to the rigors of Spanish football and show the sacrificial side of his play that fans are currently demanding.

- Mohamed Saeed

MBAPPÉ OUT: OVER 30 MILLION REAL MADRID FANS PETITION FOR STAR STRICKER TO BE SENT PACKING THIS SUMMER

Kylian Mbappe is not a popular man among the Real Madrid fanbase at the minute

Over 30million ‘Real Madrid fans’ have signed a petition demanding star striker Kylian Mbappe is sold this summer with organisers claiming it is “best for the club’s future”.

Mbappe has become a symbol for Madrid’s current woes and received widespread criticism for his decision to leave the camp last weekend and go on holiday with his girlfriend.

The France striker is currently working his way back from a hamstring injury sustained against Real Betis on April 24 and fighting to be fit for Sunday’s El Clasico clash with arch rivals Barcelona at Camp Nou.

But rather than stay with the rest of the squad and focus on his recovery, Mbappe was pictured over the weekend relaxing on a yacht off the coast of Sardinia.

It led to his representatives releasing a statement defending their client that read: “A portion of the criticism is based on an over-interpretation of elements related to a recovery period strictly supervised by the club, and does not reflect the reality of Kylian’s commitment and daily work for the team.”

Real Madrid fans target Mbappe despite individual success

Mbappe has scored 41 goals in 41 games in all competitions this season but Madrid still look highly likely to finish without a trophy. Indeed, Barcelona need just a draw on Sunday to retain the title.

And the lack of collective success has prompted an online campaign calling for the 27-year-old to be sold. Although a petition of this nature is open to manipulation – it is highly likely thousands of Barca fans have mischievously given it a click – it does give an indication of the current ill feeling towards the former Paris Saint-Germain star.

Underneath a graphic that reads Mbappe Out, the reasoning on the website www.mbappeout.replit.app reads: “Madridistas, make your voice heard. If you believe change is needed, don’t stay silent — sign this petition and stand for what you think is best for the club’s future.”

Mbappe safe at Real Madrid but others may move on

Mbappe almost certainly won’t be sold by Madrid this summer. He is their best player and most valuable commercial asset.

However, there will undoubtedly be changes at the Santiago Bernabéu after a miserable season that has seen underwhelming performances on the field and numerous stories of discord off it.

Just yesterday, left-back Alvaro Carreras felt it necessary to defend his relationship with his team-mates, and also confirm he had been involved in an altercation with centre-half Antonio Rudiger.

Reports suggested Carreras had been slapped by the Germany international in a training ground fracas in February after senior colleagues expressed their unhappiness with his attitude.

Carreras wrote on Instagram: “In recent days, certain insinuations and comments about me have emerged that do not correspond to reality.

“My commitment to this club and to the coaches I’ve had has been unwavering since day one, and it will continue to be so. Since I returned, I have always worked with the highest level of professionalism, respect, and dedication. I have fought very hard to fulfill my dream of returning home.

“Regarding the incident with a team-mate, it was an isolated matter without importance that has already been resolved. My relationship with the entire team is very good.”

Madrid has looked a largely unhappy club for much of the campaign with Xabi Alonso’s short tenure ending in January amid claims of player unrest while his successor Alvaro Arbeloa seems certain to leave this summer after failing to oversee an improvement.

Whoever comes in will have to inspire a dressing room of egos and return them back to the top of the domestic and continental game.

- Jon Fisher

REAL MADRID LOCKER ROOM HAS TURNED ON KYLIAN MBAPPÉ

 

FBL-ESP-LIGA-BETIS-REAL MADRID | CRISTINA QUICLER/GettyImages

Real Madrid fans are at a point where they want to clasp their hands together against their ears, dive under the pillows, and block all the noise in the world and that endless screaming. But when it rains at the Santiago Bernabeu, it pours, and not even the most expensive retractable roof that Florentino Perez could by can keep out the barrage.

Superstar forward Kylian Mbappe has the goals, but he has brought nothing else to Real Madrid. And slowly but surely, as the losses pile while PSG and Barcelona win trophies, the frustrations are mounting. That includes frustrations from within the building, and now the floodgates are opening with reports, stories, rumors, and anecdotes of malcontent with Mbappe.

The latest comes from veteran Real Madrid reporter Jorge C. Picon, who states that tensions with Kylian Mbappe had already been boiling in the background within the locker room as players have blamed his lack of defensive effort as one of the reasons for the team underperforming. But apparently, the images of him on vacation in Italy did hit hard back home, annoying players. Picon even says that Real Madrid players are questioning the nature of Mbappe's injury and have noted other instances of him not giving his all to the team, including in training.

Kylian Mbappe is not everyone's golden boy

Finally, Picon goes on to say that while Vinicius Junior himself is on good terms with Mbappe, it is the other players who may be behind the supposed battle between Vini and Mbappe that everyone talks about. It is because they view Vinicius as more of a leader and someone who gives more to the club; they feel Mbappe is the one not giving enough to Madrid.

It is an unsurprising series of revelations from Picon, and though Vinicius Jr. was the villain of the hour at the beginning of the season, the two time Champions League winner for Real Madrid is now emerging as a more positive figure. Perhaps the players at Real Madrid, seeing how Kylian Mbappe has been less scathed than their former Ballon d'Or candidate in 2023/24, are going to bat for Vini and trying to highlight Mbappe's ills for the sake of balance.

But these stories are really no good for anyone at Real Madrid, regardless of whether or not it is true that Mbappe is causing the same problems at the Bernabeu that he did at PSG - a PSG that has been the best team in Europe since his departure from France. The locker room may be slowly turning on Mbappe, lashing out at the golden boy who disrupted their harmony two years ago.

- Joe Soriano

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ LEADS IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCORING