French star Kylian Mbappé has dismissed claims of tension with teammate Vinícius Júnior, stressing that the pair enjoy a strong relationship and are united in their mission to bring trophies back to Real Madrid.
Speaking in an interview with Movistar Plus+, Mbappé revealed that his bond with the Brazilian winger has grown since his arrival in Madrid, both on and off the pitch.
“I have a very good relationship with Vinícius. Much better this year, we got to know each other much more. He’s a great player and, as a person, a very good one,” Mbappé said.
Rumours of a rivalry surfaced last season following Madrid’s inconsistent performances, with some analysts questioning whether two players with similar attacking styles could thrive together. However, Mbappé shrugged off such reports, calling them part of the reality of playing for one of the world’s most scrutinized clubs.
“Two famous players on the same team sell a lot of papers. We know people talk about us all the time,” he explained. “I normalise it because the day there’s a real problem—hopefully it never happens—I’ll say it’s serious. This isn’t serious. For a Real Madrid player, this is normal.”
Now fully settled at the Bernabéu, Mbappé insists that both he and Vinícius are focused on restoring Madrid to its dominant best after a disappointing 2024–25 season.
“We share the same goal: to help Real Madrid win titles. If we want to achieve that, we must both perform at our highest level and support the whole team,” he added.
The duo’s partnership has already shown signs of promise. They have scored in the same La Liga match three times this season—nearly matching their combined tally from last year. Mbappé currently leads Madrid’s scoring charts with 14 goals in all competitions, while Vinícius has contributed seven goals and assists combined.
Their impressive form has propelled Real Madrid to the top of the La Liga standings heading into the October international break.
Away from club matters, Mbappé also commented on Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, urging the public and media to allow him the space to develop.
“People talk a lot about his personal life. I think they should leave him alone,” Mbappé said. “In football, he is a great player, but in life, he is an 18-year-old kid.”
