Kylian Mbappe has named the ‘great’ teammates he has played alongside – but there was no space for any of his current Real Madrid colleagues.
Mbappe, 26, made the move from PSG to Madrid after his contract at the Ligue 1 club ran out at the end of the 2023/24 season.
The 2018 World Cup winner has had a mixed start to life at Los Blancos. Statistically, he has returned impressive numbers, having scored 12 goals in 22 competitive games.
However, it was his poor performances in the 4-0 home defeat against Barcelona and the 2-0 Champions League loss against Liverpool, in which Mbappé saw a penalty saved by Caoimhín Kelleher, that have caused him to come under fire from some supporters.
Although Mbappé is arguably the highest profile name in Carlo Ancelotti’s side, he is accompanied by legendary midfielder Luka Modric, England star Jude Bellingham and Vini Jr.
But despite their breathtaking ability on the pitch, their achievements were not enough for Mbappé to name them in his five ‘great’ teammates list.
The 26-year-old admitted he wishes he could’ve shared a dressing room with Madrid’s all-time leading goal scorer and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I’ve played with great players: Lionel Messi, Neymar, [Antoine] Griezmann, [Paul] Pogba, [Karim] Benzema…” Mbappé told beIN Sports.
Kylian Mbappe snubbed his Real Madrid teammates (Credit:Getty)
Of course, Mbappé was part of the iconic PSG attack alongside Messi and Neymar between 2021 and 2023.
As for Pogba, Benzema and Griezmann, they have all been international teammates of Mbappé’s.
“It would have been fun to play with Cristiano Ronaldo – it’s going to be very difficult now, but I was lucky enough to play against him, a legend of the sport,” said Mbappe.
“I went to the biggest club in the world,” Mbappe added when speaking to children as part of the BeUNITED program.
“I have always said that it was the only club I would have left PSG for
“If I hadn’t been able to go to Madrid, I would have stayed at PSG all my life.”
“Since I was 14, everyone told me I was going to be great,” he explained.
“But when you’re big, sometimes you feel small…At first, I was too hungry, and it played tricks on me because I was impatient. But I have passion and this competitive side.
“My dream now is to win trophies with my team, not individual awards. What great title is left for me? The Champions League, but I’m in the best club in the world for that.”