Kylian Mbappé, once Paris Saint-Germain’s standout winger, is facing a pivotal adjustment period at Real Madrid. The 25-year-old French forward joined the Spanish giants this summer, but adapting to a central striker role has proven challenging. Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema, who spent 14 seasons with the club, recently shared candid advice for Mbappé on the Spanish television show *El Chiringuito*.
Benzema, who amassed five Champions League and four La Liga titles with Real Madrid, observed that Mbappé’s favored position on the left wing is firmly occupied by Brazil’s Vinicius Junior. Benzema contends that Vinicius has cemented his place on the left and proven his ability to make game-changing plays—a scenario that leaves Mbappé needing to thrive in a more central role if he hopes to succeed at Real.
“[Mbappé] is not a central striker,” Benzema explained. “With the national team, he doesn’t feel right as a number nine because that’s not his position. But at Madrid, on the left, there’s Vinicius, who’s at the same level as him.” Benzema added that moving Vinicius elsewhere would be impractical, as the Brazilian has consistently delivered from his preferred left-wing position.
Despite his promising start with eight goals in 14 appearances, Mbappé’s form has slowed, scoring only once in his last five games. Compounding matters, he struggled to make an impact in Real’s recent 4-0 loss to arch-rivals Barcelona, which ended a 42-game unbeaten run in La Liga. The performance added to the pressure on Mbappé, highlighting the high expectations that come with wearing Real Madrid’s iconic white shirt.
Benzema’s message to his former club’s new number nine was clear: adapting to the demands of the central striker role is essential for Mbappé to succeed at Real. “Don’t give up,” Benzema urged. “If you go two or three games without a goal, you’re going to have a lot of problems. This isn’t Paris Saint-Germain.”
In the latest Ballon d’Or rankings, Vinicius finished as runner-up to Manchester City’s Rodri, underscoring his growing status in world football and the challenges Mbappé faces in competing for influence at Real. Benzema, who scored 354 goals for Madrid and won the Ballon d’Or in 2022, left an indelible mark on the club and now sees Vinicius as “the best player in the world at the moment.”
With these insights from Benzema, Mbappé’s journey at Real Madrid looks set to test his adaptability and mental resilience. As the Frenchman continues to navigate the complexities of his new role, he’ll have to embrace a central position to meet the demands of one of the most storied clubs in football history.
