Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has hit back at comparisons with Barcelona’s Raphinha and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé, pointing to his goal-scoring record while insisting that every player has different qualities.
Mbappe was speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League meeting with Inter when he was asked about criticism of his defensive work and suggestions that he should press more like Raphinha and Dembélé.
The France international responded with a sharp remark, saying his goalscoring numbers already set him apart from the two players.
“If I wanted to answer stupidly, I would tell you that I score more goals than the players you mentioned, and therefore they need to score more to be like me,” Mbappe said.
He, however, quickly softened his response and acknowledged that he still has areas of his game to improve.
“But I am intelligent, so I will tell you that I need to improve. However, I don’t like comparisons, because I do many things that others don’t do,” he added.
Mbappe argued that comparisons between players often miss the differences in their roles, strengths and responsibilities.
“We all need to improve, and this is natural for any player. Everyone is different, and we must do things intelligently. I don’t like comparisons, as it is an endless debate,” he said.
The 27-year-old also addressed his partnership with Real Madrid teammate Vinícius Júnior, which has frequently been debated since the pair began playing together.
Mbappe insisted that both players remain focused on the same objective despite the discussion surrounding their relationship on the pitch.
“We have the same goal, which is to win titles. We can’t control people’s opinions, and we are always trying to improve,” he said.
Mbappe also had praise for new Real Madrid coach José Mourinho, highlighting the Portuguese manager’s experience and ability to instil a winning mentality within a squad.
“Mourinho is someone who knows how to win, and how to transmit this mentality to those around him,” Mbappe said.
“He gives motivation to the entire club and to his group, and the most important thing is winning matches.”
The forward was further asked about his Ballon d’Or ambitions and whether he considers himself the best player in the world.
Mbappe said he naturally believes he belongs among the very best, although he acknowledged that the award ultimately depends on the opinions of the journalists who vote for it.
“I always feel that way, but this is very personal. Everyone has their own opinion, some will say yes and others will say no,” he said.
He also rejected the idea that goals and trophies should be viewed as competing priorities.
Mourinho had suggested he would rather see his striker score 40 goals and win titles than score 60 goals without lifting a trophy. Mbappe disagreed with that framing.
“Of course I want to win titles, but it isn’t a choice between the two. You have to do both: score goals and win titles,” he said.
With the Champions League clash against Inter approaching, Mbappe will now look to turn his confidence into another strong performance as he continues his pursuit of the European trophy that remains absent from his collection.
