Kylian Mbappe is facing strong criticism at Real Madrid despite a prolific season, leaving Ousmane Dembele stunned. Mbappe scored heavily in 2025-26, yet parts of the Madrid fanbase and some voices around the club questioned performances, attitude and injuries, even launching a petition for the forward to leave Los Blancos.
The campaign ended without silverware for Madrid, increasing scrutiny on leading players and the coaching staff. Both Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa lost their jobs during the season, and Jose Mourinho was confirmed as the new coach earlier this week, adding further tension around Mbappe’s situation at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Mbappe’s numbers remained elite despite the team’s struggles across competitions. The France international
registered 42 goals in 44 matches in all tournaments for Real Madrid in 2025-26. Across Europe’s top five leagues, only Harry Kane, who hit 61 goals for club duties, finished with a higher tally.
That output did not shield Mbappe from unrest. Reports in Spain suggested disagreements between Mbappe and coaching staff about managing injury issues. Madrid supporters jeered the forward on several occasions, while an online petition demanded Mbappe’s exit. Those reactions created a hostile backdrop for one of world football’s most high-profile forwards.
Dembele, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, cannot understand the intensity of the reaction around Mbappe. Speaking to Marca, Dembele stressed Mbappe’s influence for club and country, and highlighted Mbappe’s conduct within the France squad, where Mbappe is viewed as a leader on and off the pitch.
Dembele said: "The criticism towards him is very, very unfair. Some people go a bit too far with the criticism of Kylian, Dembele told Marca. He's an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch. Some people overdo the criticism because he's Kylian Mbappe. They shouldn't keep going after him. Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not. It's too much. He's still a human being. With the France team, he's very good with us, he's a leader. "
Kylian Mbappe criticism and World Cup focus with France
Attention for Mbappe now shifts away from Madrid and towards the World Cup, where France are again among the main contenders. Opta’s supercomputer gives Spain the highest probability of lifting the trophy at 16.3 per cent, with Les Bleus listed next at 13.5 per cent, underscoring high expectations.
Both Mbappe and Dembele already know what winning the tournament feels like, having triumphed with France in 2018. France also reached the 2022 final, losing to Lionel Messi’s Argentina despite Mbappe scoring a hat-trick. That history, combined with current form, explains why debate around Mbappe remains intense before another global campaign.
| Player / Team | Competition / Metric | Figure | Season / Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | Goals for Real Madrid (all competitions) | 42 in 44 games | 2025-26 |
| Harry Kane | Club goals (all competitions) | 61 | 2025-26 |
| Spain | World Cup win probability (Opta) | 16.3% | Next World Cup |
| France | World Cup win probability (Opta) | 13.5% | Next World Cup |
As Madrid move forward under Jose Mourinho and France chase another World Cup, Mbappe stands at the centre of both storylines. Dembele’s firm backing underlines how highly Mbappe is regarded inside the France camp, even while criticism grows louder around Real Madrid and the wider European game.
