Who’s Really Being Called Out? Mbappé Apologizes for Real Madrid’s Slump and Wins Praise—So Why Are the Other Galácticos Staying Silent?

Real Madrid may boast a star-studded frontline featuring Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, but the team’s results this season in both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga have fallen short of expectations.

That gap between talent and performance has fueled frustration among some fans, with a portion of supporters blaming Mbappé—portraying him as a disruptive “superboss” figure who weakens the squad’s immediate competitiveness. However, the picture presented by those close to the situation suggests something very different: Mbappé’s sense of responsibility has remained one of his defining traits.

According to behind-the-scenes reporting from Antoine Simonneau, a well-known journalist at the French football outlet L’Équipe, Mbappé rarely makes public statements inside the Real Madrid environment and does not try to impose himself by telling the team what to do. When he does speak, the report suggests, he avoids empty clichés and focuses on direct, practical points.

After Madrid’s surprising 4–2 defeat to Benfica—coached by José Mourinho—Mbappé was reportedly the only Real Madrid star willing to step forward and shoulder responsibility. Deeply disappointed by the result, he is said to have told his teammates that the squad currently faces multiple shortcomings, and that these issues could significantly derail their title ambitions.

In that Champions League match, Mbappé and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois were described as two of the few players who delivered a steady performance. Yet for a player driven by trophies, the situation has reportedly been uncomfortable: Mbappé has often appeared isolated at key moments. Even with managerial changes—such as Álvaro Arbeloa replacing Xabi Alonso in the dugout—the sense of a scattered dressing room has not noticeably improved.

Born in 1998, the French superstar has been positioned as Madrid’s attacking centerpiece and, increasingly, a symbolic figure for the team. He joined Real Madrid in 2024 on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain and has continued to score at a prolific rate, having previously won the La Liga top scorer award and the European Golden Shoe. This season, the article claims he has made 29 appearances for Madrid, registering 36 goals and 4 assists—maintaining a remarkable level of output.

Still, his time at the club has been relatively short, and with that comes a reality in elite dressing rooms: influence is not granted overnight. Leadership is often built through longevity, trust, and shared highs and lows—areas where even a global icon may need time to fully establish authority. The encouraging sign for Mbappé is that Madrid’s leadership reportedly recognizes his impact. The club’s executives have praised him repeatedly, and president Florentino Pérez is said to view him as the team’s leading figure.

So when L’Équipe pushes the narrative of “Madrid lost, but Mbappé didn’t,” it raises a bigger question: has Mbappé already begun to function as Real Madrid’s true emotional and competitive leader—even if the team around him hasn’t fully responded yet?