Petit: Real Madrid Should Empower Bellingham and Mbappé as Leaders

2026-07-26

French 1998 World Cup champion Petit emphasized on a recent show that Real Madrid should allow Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé to take on leadership roles within the team. He praised Bellingham's outstanding performance at the 2026 World Cup, noting the determination and ambition displayed by the England international, which deserves to be carried forward at Madrid.

“I want to see this version of Bellingham,” Petit stated. “He is a lion on the pitch, showcasing leadership qualities both in the game and off it.” He added, “He is under immense pressure—remember, just months ago, some questioned whether he should be included in the England squad for the World Cup. Therefore, he needed to prove himself.”

During the tournament, Bellingham excelled, scoring seven goals, making him the highest-scoring midfielder and setting a new record for midfielders in a single World Cup.

Petit continued, “If I were a Real Madrid fan, I would tell Bellingham and Mbappé: this is the level we expect to see. The anticipation for next season will be sky-high.” He predicted that José Mourinho would have in-depth discussions with the pair and noted, “He will tell them, ‘This is my expectation: step onto the pitch and become the team's leaders.’”

Petit also highlighted Mbappé's World Cup performance, praising the French captain for rediscovering his humility and leadership qualities. He remarked, “We are seeing the early-career Mbappé again: humble, close to his teammates and coaches, while leading the team on the field.”

During this World Cup, Mbappé netted ten goals, earning him the top scorer award and making him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. However, Petit pointed out that such a performance means he will face even higher expectations upon returning to Madrid. He explained, “Real Madrid fans have witnessed his performances for the national team; they want him to lead the squad on and off the pitch like Cristiano Ronaldo and many club legends.”

Finally, Petit stressed that Mourinho must build a team that relies on collective synergy rather than personal brilliance, adding, “Real Madrid cannot always expect moments of brilliance from Mbappé or Vinícius. The past two seasons, both in Spain and at Paris Saint-Germain, have shown that even with top players, the power of the team outweighs individual brilliance.”