ONE TOUCH SUMMARY
- Kylian Mbappé defended his work rate and denied it is an issue for Real Madrid despite criticism.
- Mbappé stated this could be a good year to win the Ballon d'Or after his World Cup goal-scoring feats.
- Mbappé missed a late penalty in Real Madrid's 1-0 LaLiga loss to Real Betis, which was not retaken.
ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
Mbappé’s defence of his work‑rate is a smokescreen; his Ballon d’Or hopes will rise or fall on whether he adds defensive grit to his goal‑scoring, not on the volume of his talk. He told reporters that he and Vinícius Júnior must improve off the ball, yet he immediately shifted the comparison to Ousmane Dembélé and Raphinha, claiming he already scores more than they do. That contradiction shows he is still measuring himself by attacking output alone.
The missed penalty against Real Betis, which Mourinho blamed on a VAR error, underlined how a single lapse can overturn a match, and it came in a game where Madrid conceded the only goal. If Mbappé truly believes he must do more than finish, the next concrete test is the Champions League opener against Inter Milan, where his pressing, tracking back and willingness to win the ball high up the pitch will be on display. Only then will we know if his Ballon d’Or talk is backed by action.
WHY IT MATTERS
Mbappé's public defence of his work rate and Ballon d'Or ambition highlights the pressure on Real Madrid's star forward to deliver trophies after two barren seasons, while addressing scrutiny over his defensive contributions in a high-expectation environment.
Kylian Mbappe
ST / LW
France
Strengths
- ✓Elite finishing and goal-scoring consistency
- ✓World Cup tournament performance and experience
- ✓Ability to perform under high-pressure moments
- ⚠Can Mbappé sustain his defensive contribution without losing attacking sharpness?
- ⚠Will his Ballon d'Or candidacy depend on winning team trophies this season?
TACTICAL FIT
Mbappé's insistence on maintaining his attacking role despite defensive demands suggests Real Madrid will continue to rely on his goal threat, with tactical adjustments likely focused on team-wide pressing rather than altering his primary function as a scorer.
THE DEBATE
Should Mbappé prioritise defensive work over goal-scoring to satisfy Real Madrid's tactical needs?
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Why wasn't Kylian Mbappé's penalty retaken for Real Madrid? (1:29)
Alex Kirkland Sep 7, 2026, 08:09 AM ET
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Kylian Mbappé launched a passionate defence of his playing style on Monday, denying that his work-rate off the ball -- alongside teammate Vinícius Júnior -- is an issue for Real Madrid, and saying this "might be a good year to win the Ballon d'Or" after his goal scoring at the World Cup.
Madrid slipped to their first defeat of the LaLiga season on Friday, losing 1-0 at Real Betis as Mbappé missed a late penalty, and now host Inter Milan in the Champions League in their opening game of the league phase.
Mbappé has gone two seasons without winning a major trophy since joining Madrid, while his former team, Paris Saint-Germain, have won back-to-back Champions Leagues in the same period.
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"Just me and Vinicius?" Mbappé replied, in a news conference on Monday, when asked if more defensive effort was required from Madrid's forwards, compared to PSG's Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona's Raphinha.
"Of course we have to improve, that's completely natural. But I could play the fool and say that I score more goals than the two players you mention, and that they should score more, to be like me.
"But I want to be smart and say that of course I need to improve, even though I do things that the others [Dembélé and Raphinha] don't ... but I don't like to make comparisons. It's a never-ending debate. Everyone at Real Madrid has to improve in this area, to concede fewer chances."
Mbappé scored 10 goals in France's run to the World Cup semifinals this summer -- becoming the all-time leading scorer in the competition with 22 goals between three tournaments -- and has been named as a candidate to win the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or.
"When you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, you're associated with these awards," he said on Monday. "When people see me in the street, a lot of them talk to me about it ... I made a lot of history this summer, in the most important competition. But there's still a long way to go."
Mbappé admitted that he "always" feels like the best player in the world. "But it's something very personal," he said.
"Everyone has their own opinion. Some people here will think so, and others won't. Not everyone has to think like me. This year might be a good one to win the Ballon d'Or, but it's voted on by journalists, and they'll choose."
Mbappé denied that Madrid's dressing room atmosphere and competitive spirit needed to improve under new coach José Mourinho, after a difficult campaign last season with Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa.
"It's very difficult to answer a question that starts with 'people say,'" he said. "Who says? Everyone says things. I can say things too, about you, it doesn't mean it's true. But Mourinho, he's a guy who knows how to win, how to inspire those around him.
"What does improvement in the dressing room mean? It's the same as last year, just a different coach. I think there's always been a good atmosphere."
Kylian Mbappé has been named as a candidate to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or.Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Mourinho hit out at the decision not to allow Mbappé's missed penalty against Betis on Friday to be retaken.
"It wasn't retaken either because the VAR doesn't know the rules, or because the VAR didn't want to [retake it]," Mourinho said. "That's the question that I'd like those responsible to answer. Why didn't the VAR let the penalty be retaken? If it's because he doesn't know the rules, he should go home and not be a VAR. If he didn't want to, it's even worse.
"It's a bit strange. I want to go down the honest route, and think he didn't know the rules. I prefer to go in that direction. But if that's the case, he can't be the referee, or the VAR. I want to be clear that we didn't lose because of that, but as Real Madrid coach, in a professional competition, I'd like to know, why the penalty wasn't retaken. I'd like a response."
AI-assisted · generated from ESPN FC reporting, not editor reviewed
