Kylian Mbappé demonstrated leadership on and off the pitch by publicly backing his Real Madrid teammate Vinicius Jr, who recently faced intense criticism from the club’s supporters.
The Brazilian forward endured boos from fans at Santiago Bernabéu during Real Madrid’s La Liga clash with Levante, with jeers coming every time he touched the ball. The reaction added pressure to a player already carrying high expectations for the season.
Mbappé, however, refused to let his teammate face the backlash alone. Following his Man of the Match performance in Real Madrid’s Champions League meeting with Monaco, Mbappé made a point of celebrating alongside Vinicius and embracing him in front of cameras and the team.
The French forward also shared a photo with Vinicius on Instagram, writing: “I’m very happy for you, brother… all Madrid fans are with you!”
The support from Mbappé extends beyond social media. In a pre-match press conference before the Monaco game, he criticized the fans for singling out Vinicius, saying the team as a whole bore responsibility for any shortcomings. His remarks highlighted his commitment to protecting teammates and fostering unity within the squad.
Vinicius’ response on the field underlined why he remains a crucial player for Madrid. He scored in the 63rd minute and was directly involved in three other goals, assisting Mbappé in the 26th minute and Franco Mastantuono in the 51st, while Monaco’s Theo Kerer deflected a third into the net in the 55th.
His creativity and composure helped Real Madrid deliver a dominant 6-1 victory in the seventh round of the league stage in the continental competition.
The gesture reinforces Mbappé’s growing reputation as a leader at Real Madrid, willing to shield young stars from undue criticism. Vinicius, meanwhile, demonstrated that despite the boos, he can influence matches at the highest level, combining skill, vision, and finishing ability to keep Madrid at the top of European competition.
