Kylian Mbappé’s transition to Real Madrid has been marked by mounting pressure and criticism. As arguably the top player in contemporary football, he finds himself grappling with comparisons to the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. These expectations, while perhaps understandable due to his immense talent, are ultimately unrealistic and serve only to undermine his achievements. Mbappé is facing a no-win scenario that places an undue burden on his shoulders, complicating his ability to perform freely and effectively.
Since joining Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappé has made a decent but unspectacular start. Over his initial 14 appearances for the club, he has scored eight goals, which translates to a satisfactory return. However, this performance falls short when juxtaposed against his expected goals (xG) tally of 7.74. Despite being Madrid’s leading scorer in LaLiga, the narrative surrounding him tends toward disappointment rather than praise. His stats, while acceptable, are overshadowed by the relentless pursuit of perfection ingrained in the culture of a club that has, for years, basked in the brilliance of Messi and Ronaldo.
Mbappé’s struggles emerged glaringly during the recent Clasico defeat against Barcelona, where he made headlines—not for his goal-scoring prowess but for an astounding record of being caught offside eight times in a single match. Such a statistic serves to illustrate the gulf between what is expected of a player in his position and the reality of his current form. While an ideal scenario would have had him as the leading scorer in LaLiga, he finds himself notably behind players like Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, further intensifying scrutiny.
One cannot disregard the cloud of expectations that loomed over Mbappé when he finally made the much-anticipated move to Madrid. Historically, players such as Ronaldo and Messi have created their own legacy, filling individual narratives with jaw-dropping statistics and moments of sheer brilliance. Mbappé, while undoubtedly a world-class talent, is facing the task of elevating his game under circumstances that are challenging at best.
Part of the strengthening argument for Mbappé’s potential lies in his history. His rise through the ranks at Monaco created a foundation of expectation that has only grown since. With four goals in two World Cup finals for France, his promise has been gold-tipped, cementing him as football’s so-called heir apparent. Yet, amid fresh expectations, the goal is not merely to emulate but to excel—an endeavor that becomes increasingly challenging in the face of reliance on teammates who may not be as adept as those in the past.
The current composition of Real Madrid’s midfield also plays a vital role in shaping Mbappé’s fortunes. With the absence of Toni Kroos, whose vision and creativity have historically benefited attackers like Ronaldo, and the waning influence of Luka Modrić, who is now a shadow of his former self at the age of 39, the system seems to lack the necessary creativity to set up disastrous one-on-ones or exploit the overlapping runs of its star forward.
Current midfielders like Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde possess their individual talents but haven’t delivered the same level of creativity as their predecessors. Notably, Bellingham, who initially dazzled with his goal-scoring, has struggled and yet the spotlight remains disproportionately on Mbappé. With a collective tally of meager through-balls this season, it becomes evident that the midfield’s inability to provide the necessary service hampers Mbappé’s ability to showcase his full range of skill.
As discussions surrounding the next footballing superstar circulate, it is crucial to recognize the unique pressures Mbappé contends with in a post-Ronaldo and Messi world. Holding him to standards forged by two of football’s greatest legends not only diminishes his accomplishments but also clouds the potential for his trajectory within the game. The expectation should not be to replicate the extraordinary feats of those before him but to carve out his own legacy.
While he may not currently fit the mold of Ronaldo or Messi’s consistency, Mbappé possesses the talent and potential to rise to those heights. The narrative that surrounds him now must shift from an impossible comparison to an understanding of his individual journey and how he can learn, adapt, and thrive despite the shortcomings of the team dynamic. Football has room for another superstar, but it will take time and support—not just criticism—for Mbappé to claim that title fully. In a sport driven by narrative and history, football fans must shed old scales of measurement and make way for the next wave of talent, which Mbappé likely represents.