Kylian Mbappe is the biggest star of Real Madrid, and he clearly knows the microscope that is placed upon him whenever he plays or even opens his mouth. The French superstar is one of the Ballon d'Or leaders this season and was the European Golden Boot winner, so it's safe to say that, at an individual level, his start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu has been as brilliant as expected.
But team success has still evaded Mbappe. He has not won a major trophy yet for the Merengues, who find themselves still behind Barcelona in La Liga. Given Mbappe has never won the Champions League whereas the likes of Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde have won it twice, Mbappe has to prove he is elevating Real Madrid as a team.
His teammates have taken well to Mbappe, who is the captain of the French national team and continues the trend of Real Madrid's first team being represented by many key leaders at the national team level.
Kylian Mbappe doesn't respect the CB
But sometimes, it feels like Kylian Mbappe is putting his foot in his mouth. In a recent interview with The Bridge, Mbappe stated that he feels being a center back is the easiest position on the football pitch, citing the fact that players are more easily able to play into their 40s in this position than as a forward, “I think being a central defender is the easiest position because you’re covered on all sides. You can even play with three. It’s the only position where you still see 40-year-olds at the biggest clubs in Europe. Attackers at 40? They go to the butcher.”
Well, Mbappe's own idol and Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo wil have something to say about being sent to the butcher, while Pepe, Fabio Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos, and the current Real Madrid center backs Mbappe plays with will also take issue with the Frenchman saying that the center back position is easier. (And if any of his teammates are feeling particularly bold, they may point out that Mbappe does not always make their jobs easier since he isn't exactly the most active defender.)
It isn't that serious and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it is a bit odd to say that center backs have it easy. Plus, if Mbappe wants to cite back threes, he has himself benefited from playing in front threes for much of his career. What is easy is a matter of perspective, and I am not sure the young center backs on the team like Dean Huijsen and Raul Asencio won't feel like they've been thrown a bit under the bus by their biggest player's assertion that they have it any easier, especially with all the pressure defenders get if they make one little mistake (whereas Mbappe can miss plenty of chances since people will just brag about his goals anyway).