Pundit criticizes Mbappe's average performance after Madrid defeat
France captain Kylian Mbappe managed just one off‑target shot and another blocked attempt in Real Madrid’s 2‑1 La Liga loss to Atletico Madrid on September 21, 2026, completing 21 of 25 passes, including 14 of 18 in the attacking third and one long pass. After Madrid were reduced to ten men when defender Dean Huijsen was sent off for a foul on Giuliano Simeone, Alejandro Grimaldo scored the penalty, Jonathan David added a second before Antonio Rudiger’s late consolation goal.
Cadena SER journalist and pundit Fernando Palomo told Foot Mercato that Mbappe "didn't play a match worthy of a player who constantly claims to deserve the Ballon d'Or. He was an ordinary player in a match that requires top‑level players." The criticism comes despite Mbappe’s standout 2025‑26 season: 42 goals across all competitions, La Liga top scorer (25), UEFA Champions League top scorer (15), and 2026 World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals, making him the tournament’s all‑time leading scorer (22 goals) as France finished fourth.
Mbappe remains a leading contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, but this ordinary outing raises questions about whether recent form should weigh against his season‑long achievements when voters decide the award.