The Madrid press is relentless in its attacks on Kylian Mbappé. This time, the newspaper AS has put forward a surprising theory: that the French prodigy is afraid to play with his head. It’s an accusation that reignites the debate about the limitations of Real Madrid’s No9.
Mbappé’s avoidance of aerial duels is no coincidence. According to AS, it all goes back to his Ligue 1 debut, when he suffered two concussions. These incidents are said to have instilled a nagging fear in the world champion’s mind, prompting him to limit his headers as much as possible.
Euro 2024 did not help matters: in the middle of the tournament, a fractured nose after an aerial collision rekindled his fears. Since then, the Real Madrid striker has systematically avoided aerial balls, which, according to the Spanish press, could be a major hindrance to his adaptation to Real Madrid.
‘Kylian Mbappé has always been terrified of hitting his head, due to the two concussions he suffered a few years ago. Kylian Mbappé has hardly ever scored with his head during his career. Indeed, the Frenchman is afraid to touch that area, having suffered two concussions when he was just starting out in Ligue 1. He also broke his nose during the European Championship last summer, when he was hit while trying to score with his head. That’s why he avoids heading whenever he can,’ we read on Friday morning.
When we talk about Kylian Mbappé, we often talk about his lightning speed, his clinical finishing and his bewildering dribbling. But there is one aspect of his game that is lacking: headed goals. The statistics speak for themselves: of his 300-plus career goals, less than 5% have been headed. By comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid’s other idol, has scored over 140 in this way. This contrast is fuelling doubts in the Spanish press about Mbappé’s integration into a system that values aerial strikers.
Is this justified criticism or yet another provocation?
Should we see this as a real weakness or simply a strategy on the part of the Madrid press to destabilise the French striker? The debate is on. In reality, few players of his style excel in the air. Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi have built exceptional careers without dominating this area.
What’s more, despite this alleged ‘phobia’, Mbappé continues to shine on the pitch. His influence is not limited to headers, and his statistics still place him among the world’s top scorers. It remains to be seen whether this criticism will encourage him to work on this aspect, or whether it will simply reinforce his desire to prove that he is much more than just an aerial finisher.
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