Mbappe: Goalscorers are never a problem for their teams

Kylian Mbappe says criticism of his defensive work does not concern him, insisting his main responsibility is to score goals and help Real Madrid win.

The France international has been included among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or, awarded by French publication L’Equipe. He addressed the criticism in comments carried by L’Equipe and reported by Spanish newspaper Marca.

“I think this is not normal, but that is the life of someone who has been close to excellence for years. Everyone has known for years what I am capable of,” Mbappe said.

“It is normal that people always look at what someone does not do. When you have done something for 10 years, people no longer look at what you do, so they always try to focus on what you do not do.”

Mbappe said the priority in football was clear.

“Everyone has their own opinion, but I think the aim of football is to score goals and score one more than the opponent,” he added.

“The player who scores goals will never be a problem for any team, because I have never seen a team win trophies without scoring a goal.”

He acknowledged that some criticism could be useful, while other comments were less meaningful.

“I think my relationship with criticism is fair, because there is constructive criticism and there is criticism that is more absurd,” he said.

“Criticism is not something that scares me when I have to make a decision.”

Ballon d’Or nominees

France Football announced the 30 nominees for the award, with the ceremony scheduled to take place in London, England, on Monday 26 October.

The nominees are:

– Jude Bellingham – England – Real Madrid – Pau Cubarsi – Spain – Barcelona – Marc Cucurella – Spain – Real Madrid and Chelsea – Ousmane Dembele – France – Paris Saint-Germain – Luis Diaz – Colombia – Bayern Munich – Bruno Fernandes – Portugal – Manchester United – Erling Haaland – Norway – Manchester City – Gabriel Magalhaes – Brazil – Arsenal – Harry Kane – England – Bayern Munich – Achraf Hakimi – Morocco – Paris Saint-Germain – Lamine Yamal – Spain – Barcelona – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Georgia – Paris Saint-Germain – Marquinhos – Brazil – Paris Saint-Germain – Sadio Mane – Senegal – Al-Nassr – Lautaro Martinez – Argentina – Inter – Kylian Mbappe – France – Real Madrid – Nuno Mendes – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Lionel Messi – Argentina – Inter Miami – Michael Olise – France – Bayern Munich – Joao Neves – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Willian Pacho – Ecuador – Paris Saint-Germain – Julian Quinones – Mexico – Al Qadsiah – Declan Rice – England – Arsenal – Rodri – Spain – Manchester City and Barcelona – William Saliba – France – Arsenal – Dayot Upamecano – France – Bayern Munich – Vitinha – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Vinicius Junior – Brazil – Real Madrid – Fabian Ruiz – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Ferran Torres – Spain – Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona