A player who scores won’t be a problem — Mbappe replies critics

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By Adegboyega Adeleye

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Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has hit back at criticism of his defensive work, insisting that a goalscorer will never be a problem for his team.

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According to ESPN, Mbappe was responding to criticism over his commitment to tracking back and defending during games for Real Madrid.

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“Everyone has their own point of view, but I think the goal of football is to score goals — to score one more than the opposition,” Mbappe told France Football.

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“A player who scores goals will never be a problem for a team, because I’ve never seen a team win titles by scoring zero goals.”

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The France international said criticism is inevitable for a player who has operated at the highest level for several years.

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“I don’t think it’s normal, but that’s the life of someone who has lived at the pinnacle of excellence for years,” he said.

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“If I don’t score, people ask why I’m not scoring. Everyone has known what I’m capable of for years.

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“And I think that’s where the human element comes in. It’s human nature to always focus on what someone isn’t doing… So, it’s not something I take personally.”

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Mbappe, who is among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, was Real Madrid’s leading scorer last season after finishing as LaLiga’s top scorer with 25 goals in 31 appearances.

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The 27-year-old is also France’s all-time leading scorer with 66 goals, a record he reached during the 2026 World Cup.

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Mbappe, who has scored five goals in five games for Madrid this season, said he has learned to deal with different forms of criticism.

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“I think I have a fair relationship with criticism,” he said.

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“Because there is constructive criticism and somewhat more absurd criticism.

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“It’s not something that scares me when I have to make a decision. I don’t think I’m going to be criticized… I move forward without hesitation.”

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