‘In Every Match, There Are Millions Of Coaches’ Mbappé Hits Back At Critics After Ballon D’Or Nomination

‘In Every Match, There Are Millions of Coaches’ Mbappé Hits Back at Critics After Ballon d’Or Nomination Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has responded to criticism surrounding his role in the team after being named among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting that his goals should never be viewed as a problem for the club. The France international has faced questions over his defensive contribution, teamwork and overall influence since joining Real Madrid, despite maintaining an exceptional scoring record. Speaking after his latest Ballon d’Or nomination, Mbappé dismissed suggestions that his goals could negatively affect Real Madrid’s collective performance. The 27-year-old argued that footballers are inevitably subjected to opinions from supporters, pundits and coaches, with everyone having their own assessment of how a player should perform. Mbappé added that criticism is part of being an elite footballer and said he does not take it personally when people focus on aspects of his game that he could improve. The Real Madrid striker was particularly dismissive of claims that his attacking output could come at the expense of the team. According to Mbappé, the fundamental objective of football remains scoring more goals than the opposition. He argued that a player who consistently finds the net should not be considered a problem for his team because trophies cannot be won without scoring goals mbappé’s response comes against the backdrop of an outstanding goalscoring record since moving to the Spanish giants. He has scored 91 goals in 108 appearances for Real Madrid, according to Pulse Sports, while beIN SPORTS notes that only Harry Kane has scored more among players from Europe’s top five leagues since Mbappé began his Madrid career in 2024. Despite those numbers, the Frenchman has yet to win the Champions League, LaLiga or Copa del Rey with Real Madrid, a trophy drought that has contributed to scrutiny of his overall impact. Mbappé was included in the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, alongside other leading contenders including Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and last year’s winner Ousmane Dembélé. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26. For Mbappé, the nomination provides further recognition of his individual performances and goalscoring consistency. The forward now appears determined to let his performances answer his critics as he continues his pursuit of the biggest individual prize in world football.