Mbappé and Bellingham, friction and respect as Real team-mates meet again at the World Cup | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé, 27, and Jude Bellingham, 23, Real Madrid team-mates for two years, are set to cross paths at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, a low-stakes World Cup date in Miami, with Mbappé likely to play as he chases the Golden Boot and Bellingham uncertain after saying on Instagram he was struggling to find words following England's 1-2 loss to Argentina.

According to L'Équipe, Spanish reports have suggested tensions, including a half-time row in February and footage after Real Madrid v Oviedo, 2-0, on 14 May that appeared to show Bellingham avoiding Mbappé.

Flashpoints have existed since Mbappé arrived in summer 2024, a year after Bellingham. Carlo Ancelotti’s tweaks pushed Bellingham to the left, which he felt was unfair. Under Xabi Alonso, June 2025 to January 2026, Mbappé flourished while Bellingham was sceptical, yet their relations stayed cordial, shown when Bellingham sought Mbappé’s advice last October after Thomas Tuchel omitted him from the England squad, the France captain having worked with Tuchel at PSG from 2018 to 2020.

Publicly, both have been warm. In August 2024 Bellingham praised Mbappé’s brilliance, sharpness and technique, then in February 2025 said everybody knew how special he was but nobody could stop him. In December 2024 Mbappé called Bellingham an immense player.

Their meeting on Saturday will be watched closely. Whatever the line-ups, both carried their nations at this World Cup before missing the semi-finals. Miami may show whether respect trumps friction.

Source: L'Équipe