Former France international Karim Benzema has challenged Kylian Mbappé to deliver in Real Madrid’s crucial matches.
Benzema, 37, won multiple titles and achievements at the Spanish powerhouses between 2009 and 2023 when he departed for Al Ittihad in the Saudi Premier League.
Mbappe, meanwhile, sealed a dream move to Los Blancos in 2024 after leaving French side Paris Saint Germain on a free transfer.
Despite his goalscoring heroics and match-winning performances, the team fell short and ended the 2024-25 campaign without a major silverware.
The 26-year-old scored 46 times in all competitions last season and was awarded the Spanish golden boot as well as the European golden boot.
“He’s much better; scoring goals isn’t new to him. He did it at Paris Saint Germain and at Real Madrid he’s going to score many more”, Benzema said in a recent interview.
“He needs to focus more on these moments when Real Madrid needs him because he has everything needed to do it.”
In the current campaign, the superstar has picked up from where he stopped in the previous season, scoring 18 times from 16 appearances so far.
Real Madrid currently lead the La Liga standings with 31 points, three ahead of defending champions Barcelona, while they have also made an impressive start to the UCL season.
“There will be games where Mbappé won’t touch the ball. What we expect from Kylian is that when he gets the chance, he’ll put it away.
That’s how Real Madrid is. Real Madrid needs him a lot, and there are games where he has to score, like against Atlético Madrid, Liverpool … These are teams that sit back, and he has to step up, work those situations”, Benzema added.
Real Madrid will be back in action after the November international break on Sunday when they face Elche, hoping to build their lead at the top of the standings
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
