Given Real Madrid's size as a club and the superstar players they have, it's not surprising to see celebrities or other athletes show their fandom for the club or its players. Other athletes like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Rafael Nadal, and Fernando Alonso are well-documented Madridistas, adding even more to the image of greatness associated with the Spanish heavyweights.
We used to see players of the old generation, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, named as the favorite players of other athletes and celebrities, but now, with the new generation, the likes of Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe are the superstars that draw the eyes of heroic sportsmen from other worlds.
This week, another athlete showed his support for Mbappe, naming the Frenchman as his favorite football player, and that athlete happens to be Formula One driver Max Verstappen.
Verstappen waxes lyrical about 'explosive' Real Madrid star
While speaking on his live stream this week, the four-time Formula One World Champion was asked who his favorite footballer is, and he picked one that will please all Real Madrid fans, Mbappe. Verstappen said (via Madrid Xtra):
"Favorite footballer? From the current players, Kylian Mbappe."
🗣️ Max Verstappen: “Favorite footballer? From the current players, Kylian Mbappé.” pic.twitter.com/CEOvMyAqlD
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) January 22, 2026
This is not the first time Verstappen has praised Mbappe as a player and what he likes about the 27-year-old. The The youngest F1 drive and race winner in history told JOE back in 2023:
"It just admire how athletic he is. It's unbelievable how explosive he is and how fast he is."
If there's anyone who knows about speed it's Verstappen, so a quickster like Mbappe being his favorite player honestly isn't much of a surprise. This is another example of the classic saying 'greatness recognises greatness'. The Dutchman is a known diehard PSV Eindhoven fan, but the Madrid man's attacking brilliance is something everyone can recognize and applaud, except maybe Barcelona fans.
Mbappe is the level of a great player that transcends the sport and serves as a model and inspiration not only for fans but also for other great athletes of modern sports. When champions like Verstappen look across sports for inspiration, it becomes clear: Mbappé isn't just dominating football, he's redefining what greatness looks like across generations and arenas.
The France skipper has appeared 28 times across competitions this season, bagging 34 goals and five assists. He has broken several records this season and 2024-25 with the European Golden Boot after netting 31 goals.