Kylian Mbappe has hit back after being compared with Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele over pressing and defensive work, arguing that different attackers offer different qualities.

Mbappe defends his role after Raphinha and Dembele comparison

Kylian Mbappe has delivered a sharp response after being compared with Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele over his defensive contribution for Real Madrid.

The French superstar was questioned about whether he and Vinicius Jr need to press more aggressively and contribute more without the ball.

Raphinha and Dembele were then mentioned as examples of attacking players who provide greater defensive intensity.

Mbappe’s response immediately became one of the biggest talking points from the press conference.

Mbappe questions why only he and Vinicius are targeted

Before addressing the comparison directly, Mbappe challenged the way the question was framed.

“Is it just Vini Jr. and me, or the whole team?” Mbappe asked.

His point was clear.

Real Madrid’s defensive problems cannot simply be reduced to the work rate of two attacking players.

Mbappe believes responsibility without the ball belongs to the entire team.

Raphinha and Dembele comparison sparks sharp response

The discussion then turned specifically to Raphinha and Dembele.

Both players have regularly been praised for their pressing intensity and willingness to track back.

Mbappe responded by pointing to another area where he believes he has an advantage: goalscoring.

He argued that if players are going to be compared through one specific quality, the same logic could be applied in reverse.

Mbappe noted that he scores more goals than the players being used as defensive examples.

‘I score more goals than them’

Mbappe’s response was particularly striking because of how directly he defended his own strengths.

He essentially argued that if Raphinha and Dembele are praised for defending more, he could ask why they do not score as many goals as he does.

The Frenchman was not claiming that goals remove his defensive responsibilities.

Instead, he was making the broader point that different players contribute in different ways.

Some attackers provide more pressing.

Others provide more goals.

Mbappe insists comparisons can be too simplistic

After making his goalscoring argument, Mbappe clarified that he did not actually want to judge other players in that way.

His message was that footballers should not be evaluated through one tactical metric alone.

Raphinha and Dembele may offer more defensive activity.

Mbappe, however, believes his attacking output must also be considered when evaluating his overall contribution.

That distinction became central to his response.

Mbappe still admits he must improve defensively

Despite the aggressive tone of his answer, Mbappe did not reject the criticism entirely.

He openly admitted that he needs to improve his defensive work.

He also said Real Madrid as a whole must become better in several areas.

That includes defending, controlling possession and creating more chances.

Mbappe therefore did not argue that scoring goals gives him permission to avoid pressing.

He simply rejected the idea that he and Vinicius should be isolated as the only problem.

Spanish pundit questions Mbappe’s attitude

The comments have already triggered debate in Spain.

Edu Pidal questioned whether Mbappe’s response showed enough self-criticism.

Pidal suggested the remarks could be interpreted as Mbappe saying he had already completed his part of the job because of his goals.

That interpretation has added another layer to the controversy.

Mbappe may have been defending his individual contribution, but critics believe the timing of that defence matters.

Goals have not yet delivered the biggest trophies

One of the main arguments against Mbappe’s position is that Real Madrid’s biggest objective is not individual scoring records.

It is trophies.

Mbappe has produced extraordinary goalscoring numbers, but critics argue that those numbers must ultimately translate into major collective success.

That is why his comparison with Raphinha and Dembele has generated so much debate.

It raises a larger question about how elite attackers should be judged in modern football.

Pressing or goals?

The controversy has created a fascinating tactical debate.

Raphinha and Dembele are often praised for helping their teams defend from the front.

Mbappe’s strongest quality remains his ability to decide matches through goals.

The question is whether one strength should outweigh the other when judging an attacker’s overall value.

Mbappe clearly believes the answer is more complicated than simply counting pressures or defensive runs.

Mbappe refuses to hide behind diplomacy

What made the exchange particularly notable was Mbappe’s willingness to defend himself publicly.

He could have given a standard answer about collective improvement.

Instead, he challenged the comparison and openly pointed to his superior goalscoring output.

At the same time, he still accepted that his defensive work must improve.

That combination has ensured the debate will continue.

For Mbappe, the message is straightforward: judge his weaknesses if necessary, but do not ignore the goals he brings in return.