A Father Raising His Voice

In an interview with L’Équipe, Wilfried Mbappé spoke openly about his son’s career and his present at Real Madrid. Asked about criticism of his style of play and limited defensive involvement, he was clear: “I’m not saying Kylian shouldn’t defend, but how do we judge a player? We criticize someone who still scores 60 goals a season.”

He also left a powerful message: “Defending and pressing is not his game. Kylian does things others are incapable of doing.”

Response to Luis Enrique and the Critics

On the viral documentary clip where Luis Enrique asked the striker to contribute more defensively, Wilfried was just as firm: “I don’t care if Kvaratskhelia runs back in the 90th minute of a Champions League final. Kylian does things others cannot. I would never ask that of my forwards, and not because he’s my son.”

He also insisted he never doubted Kylian’s performance in difficult moments: “A bad season for Kylian is an exceptional one for anyone else.”

His First Season at Real Madrid

Wilfried praised his son’s debut season at Real Madrid, where he finished as both Pichichi and Golden Boot winner: “I really liked it. Considering how it started and how everyone was saying the world was ending… he finished by showing he has a mind of steel. As long as he’s happy, he’ll succeed.”

Different Since Childhood

Beyond football, Wilfried recalled his son’s unique personality from a young age, when he chose a flute instead of the guitar or piano: “That says a lot about him, he’s always been different, doing what he likes, not what others choose. If tomorrow he wants to wear a skirt, he’ll wear one.”

He closed with a personal reflection: “When tough times come, I always tell him: ‘What would little Kylian say? He’d be the happiest person in the world.’ That brings him back to reality.”