Kylian Mbappé, hero of the stadiums and lightning rod for criticism, is going through a media storm. In Spain, his recent performances at Real Madrid, deemed below his usual genius, have sparked rivers of ink and torrents of tweets. A missed penalty against Liverpool? A quiet match? It took no more for some journalists to wield their pens like swords. But in this accusatory clamor, one question remains: what to do with expectations when you are Kylian Mbappé?
The vertigo of an extraordinary career
At 25, Mbappé no longer plays against others: he faces his own legend. World champion at 19, unfortunate finalist in 2022, he has climbed peaks that few dare even imagine. But as the achievements pile up, the room for error shrinks. In the media arena, a night without a goal is equivalent to a Greek tragedy; a missed penalty becomes an unpardonable sin.
Yet, the numbers are enough to defend him: seasons with more than 40 goals, records broken with the regularity of a metronome, and mythical actions etched in collective memory. Error, in such a career, is not a failure; it’s a parenthesis.
When the Spanish press sharpens its blades
The media treatment reserved for Mbappé sometimes borders on the absurd. Marca recently described him as an "unrecognizable player." AS, in a melodramatic outburst, speaks of an "existential crisis." But beyond these caricatures, the message is clear: at Real Madrid, pressure is no metaphor. Being Mbappé means facing daily the intransigence of those who demand miracles as others order coffee.
And yet, the man himself does not flinch. His elegance in the face of criticism reminds us that the greatest respond on the field, not in the stands of social networks. Mbappé is a phoenix: each trial strengthens him.
The shadow of controversies: a smokescreen
Of course, the man does not escape rumors, whether they concern his contracts or his private life. But what are these controversies worth in a world where staggering amounts and labyrinthine clauses are the norm? Mbappé is not the architect of this system; he is one of its most visible players. As for personal accusations, they mainly illustrate the dangers of a celebrity turned showcase. We too quickly forget that public figures, before being myths, are targets. Let us remember that public opinion is not (yet) Justice…
The footballer, the icon, the man
Behind the supersonic striker hides a deeply committed man. Kylian Mbappé is also a face for youth, an ambassador for social causes, a dreamer awake who believes in the power of books and words. One can criticize his matches; one cannot deny his impact. To blame him for a misstep is to forget that he inspires an entire generation to aim for excellence.
And perhaps that is the real lesson: greatness is not the absence of failures, but the ability to transcend them. Mbappé, even in his moments of doubt, embodies this ideal.
The star that falters to shine brighter
To the prophets of doom who are already burying his career, a piece of advice: keep your shovel. Mbappé has proven time and again that he knows how to turn criticism into fuel. Real Madrid, if it manages to channel this raw diamond, will not only have a star but a legend.
Football, like life, oscillates between brilliance and shadows. And in this alternation, Mbappé writes his story with a pen made of gold and imperfections. Because deep down, that’s where true genius lies: in the ability to turn a moment of wandering into a chapter of eternity.
So yes, a missed penalty remains a missed penalty. But for Kylian Mbappé, it’s just a page in a book that no one has finished reading yet. And what a story it promises to be.