Van der Vaart Defends Mbappé Against Critics Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Rafael van der Vaart has defended Kylian Mbappé, arguing that the Real Madrid striker has been unfairly targeted for months and will be one of the best players at the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The former Dutch international expressed frustration with the criticism directed at the France captain: “When people say he was arrogant, it annoys me a bit. And now we’re talking about it because PSG won two Champions Leagues. Everyone says: yes, he was the problem.” Van der Vaart, however, nuanced this Paris assessment: “PSG has many good players, but not a single true world-class star. He was the world-class star of the club. When you play with a player like him, the other good players become more discreet.”

The former midfielder continued defending Mbappé’s record in Madrid: “Real Madrid supporters keep criticizing him and I don’t understand why. He was by far their best player this season. I’m frustrated because it’s so easy to say that Mbappé is worthless, and it’s simply not true.”

A 2018 World Cup winner and 2022 finalist, Mbappé (28) is preparing for his third World Cup. Van der Vaart is clearly banking on him to make an impact on the tournament: “I really hope Mbappé will be the best player of the tournament, despite all the criticism. But I’m 100% sure he’ll be at the top.” He even envisages a Ballon d’Or candidacy at the end of the summer, despite a mixed season at club level.

On France’s overall chances, the former Oranje player made no secret of his enthusiasm: “France is simply too strong. They could field three teams and still have a chance to win the World Cup.”