Kylian Mbappé faced a frosty reception from the Santiago Bernabéu crowd during Real Madrid’s recent clash with Athletic Bilbao.

Following a disappointing double-header against Arsenal, where he struggled to make an impact, the French star was booed by parts of the home crowd when shown on camera. Watching from the stands due to a red card picked up against Alaves, Mbappé remained expressionless as he absorbed the criticism.

Former Real Madrid icon Luis Figo has stepped in to defend the forward, offering some perspective in a recent interview with Sport. “If anyone knows the pressure, it’s me… Mbappé doesn’t need to feel special. We’ve all been booed at the Bernabéu. It’s never easy,” said the Portuguese legend.

According to Figo, high expectations come with wearing the Madrid shirt, and even the greatest players have endured tough moments under the scrutiny of the demanding Madrid faithful. Now it’s up to Mbappé to respond on the pitch.