Mbappé misses penalty in 94th minute and sinks Real Madrid at Seville

Kylian Mbappé missed a penalty in the 94th minute and squandered several clear-cut opportunities during Real Madrid’s defeat away at Real Betis Seville (0-1) on Saturday in La Liga. A performance that makes him directly responsible for the Madrid side’s poor showing.

“If Real lost the match, it’s largely because of Mbappé, who wasted big chances and missed a penalty in the 94th minute,” former pundit Pierre Ménès said in his Face à Pierrot column on YouTube. He did, however, nuance his remarks: “As much as I tend to agree that normally people criticize him even when it’s not his fault, on this match it really is his fault. But then again, he’s a striker and missing a match, missing chances, it happens to everyone.”

This defeat comes at an already delicate time for the Merengues. According to Ménès, Real Madrid does not have the tools necessary to rival FC Barcelona over the course of the season. “I think Barça are clear favorites to win the title since they already have a three-point lead after four matches. Real has not solved its problems. They didn’t sign a midfielder, which I find completely crazy,” he said.

Paradoxically, Mbappé is among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or, a list unveiled on Tuesday. The 27-year-old French striker openly claims his ambition to win the trophy, arguing that his goal tally speaks for him, despite the absence of a title last season with both Real Madrid and the French national team. Performances like the one in Seville are likely to complicate his campaign.