Kylian Mbappe is shutting out criticism of his early-season performances for Real Madrid as he prepares to return to France duty for Nations League fixtures against Italy and Belgium.
Mbappe s arrival has not brought about a flying start to 2024-25 for Madrid, who have eight points from four games to sit four adrift of pacesetters Barcelona in LaLiga.
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward failed to score in his first three league games with his new club, only to get off the mark with a brace in Sunday s 2-0 win over Real Betis.
That made him the fourth player this century to see his first two goals for Madrid come in the form of a brace, after Ronaldo, Javier Hernandez and Dani Ceballos, while Ruud van Nistelrooy scored a hat-trick.
As Mbappe returns to France duty for their opening 2024-25 Nations League fixtures, he is ignoring his critics, having recovered from a broken nose that overshadowed his Euro 2024 campaign in Germany, where he failed to score from open play.
I m at a point in my life and career where I don t think too much about other people s evaluations, Mbappe told reporters on Thursday.
I arrive, play and always try to give my best, to be the best possible version for the national team. I love this shirt. Then in football you can t satisfy everyone.
2 Kylian Mbappe is the fourth
player in the 21st Century in whose first goals have been with a brace after Ronaldo, Chicharito Hernández and Dani Ceballos (Van Nistelrooy scored a hat-trick). Idol
— OptaJose (@OptaJose)
In Madrid it s going very well, we ve already won a trophy. It s getting better and better in terms of performance, I ve scored goals, now I m focused on the national team.
My nose is no longer broken, so it s already better than at the European Championship.
I had tests at Real Madrid and they told me that it was not necessary to have surgery, I can breathe and sleep well. Physically, mentally, I m fine. I am happy.
Mbappe helped France win the 2020-21 edition of the Nations League, beating Spain in the final in Milan, and despite the understated reaction to that success, he is determined to lift the trophy for a second time.
For us there is nothing more important than the French national team, we have already won this competition and there wasn t an extraordinary reaction, Mbappe said.
We won in Milan and at the end of the game I didn t even feel like I had won a trophy. But, when we lost it, it was the end of the world.
Italy visit the Parc des Princes for France s first game in Group A2 on Friday, before Didier Deschamps men welcome Belgium to Decines-Charpieu three days later.
