Paul Pogba Comes to Kylian Mbappe’s Defense and Places Him Above Cristiano Ronaldo

The midfielder who was a world champion with Mbappé and the French national team in 2018 defended his former teammate against criticism.

Mbappe in Real Madrid

The arrival of Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid did not go unnoticed. The 27-year-old French forward became the center of debate and criticism from that day, but especially after Real Madrid's elimination from the Champions League. However, Paul Pogba, his former teammate and World Cup champion with the French National Team, came out to support him firmly.

Pogba's defense

The 33-year-old midfielder participated in Rio Ferdinand's podcast and there he did not hesitate to highlight Mbappe's impact on the white club: "Are we going to see more of Kylian Mbappe? Winning the Ballon d'Or is just a matter of timing. For me, he has been the best player all season. Now he even scores more goals than before," he expressed in Rio Ferdinand Presents.

Pogba went further and directly compared him to two Madrid icons: Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario. "He scored more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario in his first season at Real Madrid. He can only get better, I'm not surprised," he concluded.

Numbers and justifications

The numbers back up his words. According to official club data, Mbappé ended his first campaign with 44 goals, surpassing historical records: Iván Zamorano's 37, Cristiano Ronaldo's and Van Nistelrooy's 33, and Ronaldo Nazario's 30.

Pogba's support is not surprising. Both shared the field in the French National Team, and the midfielder knows firsthand the ability of his compatriot: "We understand each other. Sometimes I hit the ball poorly, and it still reaches him; he's fast. I know the runs he makes," he explained.