English Premier League
Vinicius still more popular with Real Madrid fans than Mbappe, says Keita Balde
Keita Balde believes Vinicius Jr remains more loved by Real Madrid supporters than Kylian Mbappe, despite the Brazilian forward’s recent struggles for form.
Vinicius is going through one of the more difficult periods of his Real Madrid career. He has not consistently produced the decisive performances that established him as one of the club’s leading players, and some supporters have begun to question whether he can return to his best.
However, former Barcelona player Balde says the winger still has a special relationship with the Santiago Bernabeu and retains the backing of the home support.
Speaking as a guest on the El Chiringuito programme, Balde said: “Real Madrid fans love Vinicius more than Kylian Mbappe.”
He based his assessment on what he believes can be seen from outside the club, adding: “Vinicius is held in extremely high respect and regard at the Bernabeu.”
Balde also expressed confidence that Vinicius can rediscover his form and the attacking spark that has made him such an important figure for Real Madrid.
“I know football. Vinicius will definitely come back and recover that spark he has,” he said.
That quality has been regarded as one of the Brazilian’s defining strengths, although it has not appeared with the same consistency during recent seasons.
The comparison with Mbappe has added further interest to Balde’s comments. The France forward assumed a significant share of Real Madrid’s attacking responsibility after joining the club, but he has not won over every member of the club’s support.
His comments about the Ballon d’Or, together with an incident involving shirts supporting the city of Ceuta, have contributed to a greater distance between Mbappe and some Real Madrid fans.
“I feel they love Vinicius more than Kylian. I feel they love Vinicius a lot,” Balde said.
The support Vinicius received at the Santiago Bernabeu was an important part of his development into one of Real Madrid’s standout players. Balde believes that connection remains intact, even though the player’s recent decline in form has raised questions about his performances.
The comments were reported by Sport after Balde appeared on El Chiringuito. El Chiringuito TV also shared a clip on 30 September 2026 with the caption: “El Bernabeu QUIERE mas a VINICIUS que a MBAPPE” “The Bernabeu wants Vinicius more than Mbappe.”