Mbappe is selfish like Ronaldo, dont compare him to Messi - Former Sevilla coach

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has had his mentality likened to that of Cristiano Ronaldo by former Ligue 1 coach Jorge Sampaoli, who suggested the Frenchman is "always thinking about himself."  

Mbappe, a World Cup winner, joined Real Madrid as the latest 'Galactico' in the summer of 2024, following in the footsteps of the club's all-time leading scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo.

He inherited the iconic No.9 shirt previously worn by the Portuguese legend and has often been deployed in a central striking role.

However, his reputation as a world-class forward was primarily built while playing on the left wing for both Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team.  

Jorge Sampaoli, who has managed Marseille and Rennes in Ligue 1, offered his assessment of Mbappe's playing style and mentality to SPORT, explaining why he believes the Frenchman cannot be compared to Argentine icon Lionel Messi.

"We were talking about Lamine [Yamal], who can be compared to Messi because he has individualism and also a connection with otherness," Sampaoli stated.

He continued, "Mbappe struggles a little more. I compare him more to Cristiano, a player who is always thinking about himself and the goal. And in Paris, he was decisive on the left, as a winger in the number 9."  

Sampaoli further elaborated on why he feels Mbappe has appeared to struggle at times for Real Madrid, particularly with Brazilian teammate Vinicius Jr. occupying his preferred left-wing position.

"Vinicius is at Madrid. He [Mbappe] really looks very uncomfortable, very withdrawn. He doesn't know how to attack in that position. In any case, he has scored important goals. But he is not the player I saw in France or at the World Cup in Qatar either," he added.

Despite Sampaoli's analysis, Mbappe has still managed to score an impressive 36 goals in 52 appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions.

He has also tasted success, winning the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. However, he has yet to lift the Champions League or Copa del Rey trophies with Los Blancos, and Barcelona currently lead the Liga title race in the 2024-25 season.