Gavi: Those who cannot see Mbappe’s quality are ‘blind’

Gavi has praised Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe as one of the best players in world football and warned Barcelona must remain alert to his threat before Sunday’s El Clasico.

The Barcelona midfielder was speaking to ESPN ahead of the La Liga meeting at Spotify Camp Nou, which is scheduled for 25 October 2026 as part of the competition’s 10th round.

“Everyone knows that Mbappe is one of the best players in the world and, for me, he is someone I have always admired a lot,” Gavi said.

“Honestly, I think everyone enjoys watching him when he plays. From a footballing point of view, he is among the best in the world.”

Gavi said Barcelona would need to concentrate throughout the match because of Mbappe’s ability to change a game with a single attack.

“We have to be very careful with him because he can put you in a difficult situation with any attack,” he added. “We must watch him closely and remain aware of his movement throughout the game.”

Mbappe’s goalscoring record has been accompanied by fewer major honours than might have been expected, prompting discussion over his prospects in the Ballon d’Or race. However, Gavi said a lack of trophies should not affect the assessment of the Frenchman’s performances.

“Yes… Mbappe scores a lot of goals, but he has not been fortunate when it comes to winning trophies,” he said. “That does not change the fact that he is one of the best players in the world, and he proves it constantly. Anyone who does not want to see that is blind, aren’t they?”

Gavi also rejected the idea that Mbappe’s lack of silverware meant he had enjoyed an inferior campaign compared with other players.

“Mbappe is an exceptional and extremely dangerous player,” he said. “I think winning trophies also depends on the circumstances of the team and the players around you.

“Not winning trophies does not mean he had a bad season, or that his season was less impressive than those of other players. In my view, he had an exceptional season.”

Despite his strong endorsement of the Real Madrid forward, Gavi made clear that his personal choice for the Ballon d’Or would be Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal.

“But as I have said before, I hope Lamine Yamal wins the Ballon d’Or,” he said.