Kylian Mbappé has shut down talk of any rivalry with teammate Vinícius Júnior, saying their bond has only grown stronger since he joined Real Madrid.
In a recent chat with Movistar Plus+, the French star opened up about his friendship with the Brazilian winger, describing it as genuine and built on mutual respect.
“I have a very good relationship with Vinícius — much better this year. We’ve gotten to know each other a lot more. He’s an incredible player and an even better person,” Mbappé said.
Rumours of tension between the two stars had been circulating after Madrid’s uneven run last season, with some questioning whether their attacking styles could work together. Mbappé, however, dismissed the stories as typical gossip that comes with playing for a massive club.
“When two big names play for the same team, people will always talk. It sells stories. But this isn’t serious. If there was ever a real problem, I’d say it. Right now, everything’s great,” he explained.
Now fully settled at the Bernabéu, Mbappé says both he and Vinícius are united by one mission — returning Real Madrid to its winning best.
“We both want the same thing: to help Real Madrid win titles. That’s our focus. To do that, we have to give our best every game and lift the whole team,” he said.
Their chemistry is already showing on the pitch. The duo has scored in the same La Liga match three times this season, nearly matching last year’s total. Mbappé leads with 14 goals, while Vinícius has contributed seven. Their combined form has helped Madrid climb back to the top of the table before the October international break.
Mbappé also took a moment to speak about Barcelona’s young prodigy, Lamine Yamal, urging fans and media to ease the pressure on the teenager.
“People talk too much about his personal life. He’s a great player, but he’s still just 18. Let him breathe and enjoy football,” Mbappé said.
With both Mbappé and Vinícius in sync, Real Madrid’s attack looks sharper than ever — and the supposed rivalry? Just another headline that didn’t stick.
