Mbappé Credits Ronaldo for Support During Difficult Debut Season at Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé has publicly acknowledged the support Cristiano Ronaldo provided during what has been a difficult maiden season at Real Madrid, describing the relationship between the two forwards as a genuine friendship that has grown beyond mere admiration.

Speaking in an interview with Vanity Fair, Mbappé was candid about the bond he now shares with the Al Nassr forward. “He is a friend now,” Mbappé said. “It’s so great when people you idolise when you’re young become your friends. We used to talk a lot, and he helped me in my first year at Madrid, because he knows it very well. We have a wonderful relationship and I’m very happy with it.”

The connection between the two is well-documented. Mbappé grew up with Ronaldo posters on his bedroom walls, and images of a young Mbappé posing with the Portuguese star became widely circulated long before the Frenchman emerged as one of the world’s elite players. That childhood admiration has since evolved into what Mbappé describes as a meaningful personal friendship.

The timing of these revelations comes against a backdrop of mounting pressure on the 26-year-old at the Santiago Bernabéu. Mbappé joined Real Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024, and the club are now facing the prospect of a second consecutive season without a major trophy. A section of the club’s support has directed significant criticism at the French international, with reports indicating that fans have signed petitions calling for his departure.

While Mbappé’s individual scoring record has remained at a respectable level, critics have pointed to a perceived decline in the team’s collective performance and work ethic since his arrival. Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa has also drawn attention after reportedly making cryptic comments suggesting the team takes precedence over any individual, widely interpreted as an indirect reference to Mbappé.

The forward is currently sidelined through injury, leaving his availability for Real Madrid’s final three La Liga fixtures — against Real Oviedo, Sevilla, and Athletic Club — uncertain. The club’s season finale offers limited opportunity to salvage domestic silverware at this stage.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his club form and fitness, Mbappé is expected to be France’s focal point at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer. France will be among the tournament favourites, and Mbappé’s role as the nation’s talisman is unlikely to be in question regardless of how his debut season at Real Madrid concludes.

Ronaldo, now 41 and playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League, spent nine seasons at Real Madrid between 2009 and 2018, winning four UEFA Champions League titles and two La Liga crowns during that period. His familiarity with the demands and pressures of performing at the Bernabéu gives his guidance particular relevance for a player navigating the same environment for the first time.