Carlo Ancelotti Suggests Vinicius Junior is Better Than Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe is likely to join Real Madrid this summer, but is he even needed? Carlo Ancelotti has claimed that Vinicius Junior is better than Mbappe.
Carlo Ancelotti Suggests Vinicius Junior is Better Than Kylian Mbappe
Carlo Ancelotti Suggests Vinicius Junior is Better Than Kylian Mbappe /

Kylian Mbappe has been widely tipped to finally join Real Madrid this summer but is he even needed in the Spanish capital?

Mbappe - who looks likely to move to Madrid after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30 - has spent much of his career to date playing as a wide attacker from the left wing.

However, there is already a superstar in that position at the Bernabeu.

His name is Vinicius Junior and he was on fire on Saturday night as Madrid thrashed La Liga title rivals Girona 4-0.

Vinicius Junior (right) and Kylian Mbappe pictured during a UEFA Champions League game between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in March 2022
Vinicius Junior (right) and Kylian Mbappe pictured during a UEFA Champions League game between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in March 2022 :: IMAGO/AFLOSPORT

Brazilian Vinicius opened the scoring against Girona with a powerful strike from long range before setting up the next three goals in a Player of the Match performance.

Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was later asked in his post-match press conference to comment on the latest round of Mbappe rumors.

Ancelotti responded by indirectly claiming that Vinicius is a better player than the French forward.

"You keep asking me about a player who plays for another team," said Ancelotti. "We already have the best players in the world here.

"In order: Vini Jr first, [Jude] Bellingham second, Rodrygo third. Then [Toni] Kroos, [Federico] Valverde, [Eduardo] Camavinga…"

Vinicius Junior pictured celebrating after scoring a superb solo goal for Real Madrid in a 4-0 win over Girona in February 2024
Vinicius produced a Player of the Match performance in a 4-0 win over Girona on Saturday :: IMAGO/Alberto Gardin

Midfielder Bellingham scored two of Saturday's goals before limping off the field with an ankle injury.

Bellingham has now scored 16 times in his first 21 La Liga appearances.

During Saturday's press conference, a journalist asked Ancelotti if he saw many similarities between Bellingham and iconic former midfielder Zinedine Zidane.

Ancelotti replied: "They are similar. They have unbelievable quality. Zidane was excellent technically, Bellingham is incredible at arriving at the box. His movement in the first goal, very few can do that." 


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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.