Mbappe Defends Real Madrid Players, Criticizes Fans

19 January 2026at16:20

Player Kylian Mbappe criticized Real Madrid fans for booing his teammates Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde during the team's 2-0 victory over Levante in La Liga on Saturday.

Mbappe stated: "I understand the fans... but if they're going to do that, they should boo the entire team, not just a few players. We are all playing poorly."

He added: "It's not Vinicius's fault that we're not playing as well as we'd like. The entire team is responsible." Mbappe also noted the impact on Vinicius Jr., saying: "Vini is human. It's natural for him to be affected when people speak negatively about him... As a team, we must protect him better."

This victory followed Real Madrid's loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final and their elimination from the Copa del Rey at the hands of Albacete. Former coach Xabi Alonso was sacked after the Super Cup defeat and replaced by Álvaro Arbeloa, whom Mbappe emphasized the team needed to support. Álvaro Arbeloa also defended Vinicius Jr. on Monday.

Real Madrid is preparing to face Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday and trails Barcelona by one point in the La Liga standings.

Q&A

Why did Kylian Mbappe criticize Real Madrid fans for booing?

Mbappe criticized Real Madrid fans for booing Vinicius Jr., Bellingham, and Valverde, arguing the entire team shared responsibility for recent form and that singling out players unfairly impacts morale.

How have Real Madrid's recent results impacted their season?

Real Madrid recently lost the Spanish Super Cup final, was eliminated from the Copa del Rey, and trails Barcelona by one point in La Liga, leading to a coaching change with Álvaro Arbeloa now in charge.