Real Madrid icon defends Kylian Mbappe and praises Jude Bellingham: ‘I am in awe’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid have stars on the global stage showcasing their skills at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Players such as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. have set the stage alight at the tournament, producing excellent displays for their respective nations.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid and AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf has spoken about Mbappe and Bellingham more broadly, admitting his admiration for both.

The Dutchman has defended Mbappe against criticism of his defensive work, making it clear that elite goalscorers should be judged with the right context.

Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on his podcast, Seedorf said: “I am in awe of how he’s performing. When a guy is scoring 40 goals a season, I’m going to run for him.

“That was our mentality. No issues. I don’t understand the whole buzz about Mbappe not defending.”

Mbappe is not an ordinary forward, and treating him like one misses the bigger picture. When a player can decide matches at that level, the team has to be structured in a way that maximises his strengths.

Real Madrid know this balance well

That does not mean Mbappe should be completely free from defensive responsibility. Jose Mourinho will still demand discipline, positioning and sacrifice at key moments.

Mbappe has been on fire at the World Cup. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Seedorf is right about the principle, though. Great teams have always made adjustments for great match-winners.

The objective is not to make Mbappe run for the sake of it, but to make his energy count where it hurts opponents most. If he is scoring 40 goals a season, Real Madrid’s job is to build the right balance around him.

That means midfielders who cover ground, full-backs who manage risk and forwards who press with intelligence rather than chaos.

The problem with this, though, is that Los Blancos also have another superstar, Vinicius Jr., in the same line-up.

Accommodating one player who does not contribute much defensively is possible, but doing it for two stars spearheading the attack is where the structure collapses.

Bellingham earns major praise

Seedorf also spoke highly of Bellingham. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Seedorf also praised Jude Bellingham, saying: “I love Jude Bellingham. He has that old school mentality.”

Bellingham, at his best, is one of the best midfielders in the world. He is modern in quality but old-school in attitude. He competes, takes responsibility and plays with a seriousness that fits the Bernabeu perfectly.

Seedorf’s comments could not have been more spot on. Mbappe brings elite end product and quality. Bellingham brings the competitive edge.

The two, along with Vinicius, are perhaps Madrid’s most important players in the squad, and much of their success revolves around them.

Los Blancos will hope that all their players can continue to impress at the World Cup and return fresh and motivated to start the new season under Jose Mourinho.