Kylian Mbappé (26) has come under heavy criticism from the Spanish media following Real Madrid’s disappointing and unexpected early exit from the UEFA Champions League.
The 15-time winners, who also entered the competition as defending champions, were eliminated in brutal fashion after a 2-1 loss to Arsenal at the Santiago Bernabéu.
That result sealed a 5-1 aggregate defeat, much to the shock and disappointment of the home fans.
Mbappé, who was expected to be the driving force behind Madrid’s Champions League campaign following his high-profile move in the summer, struggled to leave his mark on the match.
Despite starting up front as part of Madrid’s attacking trio, the French star managed just two attempts on goal throughout the game – neither of which troubled the goalkeeper.
His most notable moment came in the first half when he won what initially appeared to be a penalty after a challenge by Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice. However, after a long VAR review, the decision was overturned, with replays showing minimal contact and no clear foul.
With Madrid desperately needing goals, head coach Carlo Ancelotti made the surprising decision to substitute Mbappé in the 75th minute.
The France national team captain left the pitch while his team was still chasing the game, a move that visibly frustrated sections of the home crowd. Interestingly, when Brahim Díaz came on in his place, the Bernabéu faithful gave him a louder ovation than Mbappé had received all night – a subtle but telling sign of how fans were feeling.
Spanish media outlets did not hold back in their post-match analysis. Leading radio station Cadena Ser ran the bold headline, “Mbappé doesn’t even resemble Ronaldo’s shadow,” highlighting how far short he has fallen of expectations.
Their columnist, Antonio Romero, emphasized the difference in fan reaction, stating, “When Mbappé was substituted… the Bernabéu sounded a bit strange. But for me, the worst thing was that when Brahim Díaz came on, they applauded him more than Mbappé. It was like they were saying he should have been brought on earlier.”
Another major sports outlet, AS, was equally critical, drawing an unfavourable comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo.
One of their writers reflected, “I imagined what Cristiano Ronaldo would have done in this moment – a warrior, a gladiator who always fought back in adversity. Mbappé will never be that. We must accept it.”
This harsh reaction from both media and fans paints a clear picture: Mbappé, despite his star power, has yet to win over Madrid and live up to the legacy left behind by players like Ronaldo.
