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Mbappé Dismisses Rift With Vinícius and Embraces Ballon d'Or Case

His World Cup record heightens scrutiny of Real Madrid’s defensive readiness ahead of the Champions League opener.

Overview

  • Mbappé told reporters on Monday that media talk of a rift with Vinícius Jr is just one of many opinions and that both players share the same goal of winning trophies.
  • He positioned himself as a Ballon d'Or contender after scoring 10 goals to win the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot and becoming the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 22 goals.
  • The forward acknowledged he must improve his defensive work and ball control and said the whole squad needs to tighten up in those areas.
  • Mbappé responded to José Mourinho’s comment about prioritising trophies by saying he would accept fewer goals for titles but insisted scoring and winning are not mutually exclusive.
  • Real Madrid host Inter at the Santiago Bernabéu in the Champions League league phase opener, a match Mourinho has framed as part of an early push to secure qualification.