Real Madrid is out of sorts, and the Frenchman is part of that. As such, the glare falls on him. He’s the story, a dialed-down, diluted version of the soccer phenom he was upon arrival in Spain. A dizzied surfer unable to ride the waves he once could.

France icon Michel Platini has added his voice to the list of concerned figures over Kylian Mbappe’s form at Real Madrid.Mbappe recovered from a low key start in the Spanish capital, and his

Kylian Mbappe’s underwhelming performances have become a growing concern for Real Madrid, with the star forward managing just two goals since September.

Still, Mbappe missed a penalty and did not resemble any superstar qualities he's exhibited in years past. Though Mo Salah also botched a penalty for Liverpool, Arne Slot's side won thanks to second-half goals by Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.

Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale defended Kylian Mbappé after the forward disappointed in the club's Champions League defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday, during which he missed a crucial penalty.