Jorge Valdano, the legendary former Real Madrid coach, has launched a forceful defence of Kylian Mbappe, arguing that the French forward is being unfairly scapegoated for the club's collective struggles. Speaking to Movistar, Valdano rejected the mounting criticism surrounding the 25-goal La Liga top scorer, framing the narrative as increasingly toxic and misplaced.
Valdano pointed to Mbappe's international credentials as irrefutable evidence of his elite standing. "He has won a World Cup and has been runner-up in another, scoring three goals in the final," the Argentine stated. "We are not talking about a fraud; we are talking about perhaps the best player in the world at this moment." The former Blancos boss characterised the current scrutiny as disproportionate, especially given Mbappe's statistical contribution to Madrid's attacking play.
Scapegoating in Spain
Valdano was particularly critical of how observers have attributed Madrid's shortcomings entirely to their record signing. "To put the responsibility for everything good that happens to Paris Saint-Germain and everything bad that happens to Real Madrid on this man, who is the top scorer in the championship, seems like abuse to me," he said. The contrast between PSG's continued European success and Madrid's trophy-less campaign has fuelled debate, but Valdano insists the midfielder cannot bear sole responsibility for institutional failures.
Florentino Perez, Madrid's president, echoed similar sentiments, calling Mbappe the club's "best player" despite a turbulent season that ended without major silverware. Despite finishing second to Barcelona and exiting the Champions League in the quarter-final, Perez deflected blame toward the club's demanding fixture schedule rather than the forward's performances.
Record-Breaking Achievement
Mbappe's individual honours underscore his continued excellence. He secured the 2025-26 Pichichi Trophy after scoring in Madrid's 4-2 victory over Athletic Club on the final day, taking his league tally to 25 strikes. He finished ahead of Vedat Muriqi of Mallorca, who ended the season with 23 goals. Mbappe also led La Liga with 63 total shots, demonstrating sustained attacking influence throughout the campaign. His achievement marks him as the first Madrid player since Cristiano Ronaldo (2014 and 2015) to win the award in consecutive seasons.
As Madrid prepares for the summer transfer window and tactical reset, Mbappe's role in the club's plans remains central to their aspirations for the 2025-26 season.
