Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has revealed how his teammates joke about claims surrounding Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, while backing the French forward in the debate over the Ballon d’Or.
Speaking to DAZN Belgium, the Belgian was asked about a conspiracy theory suggesting that a lookalike had replaced the real Vinicius.
Courtois laughed off the claim, responding: “Of course, it is the real Vinicius.”
The conversation also turned to the recent controversy surrounding Mbappe, who has been labelled a “dictator” amid discussions about his influence at Real Madrid.
Courtois said the players had turned the label into an inside joke, with the squad sometimes repeating it in song.
“Dictator Mbappe? We laugh about it, and sometimes we repeat it in the form of a song inside the dressing room,” he said.
The goalkeeper’s comments offered a glimpse into how the players deal with the speculation and criticism surrounding the club’s leading stars.
Away from the jokes, Courtois also weighed in on the Ballon d’Or debate involving Mbappe and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal.
The Belgian backed his Real Madrid teammate on individual performance, although he acknowledged that the club’s lack of silverware could affect Mbappe’s chances.
“I think that on an individual level there was no player better than Kylian, but, unfortunately, we did not win anything on a collective level,” Courtois explained.
He also assessed Yamal’s performances at the World Cup, suggesting that the Barcelona forward had not reached the level expected of him during the tournament, despite his achievements.
“For me, Lamine Yamal produced a World Cup slightly below what was expected, but he became a world champion, won the league with Barcelona, and had a good year,” he said.
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Yamal’s success with Barcelona and Spain has strengthened his position in the individual award debate, while Mbappe’s performances at the World Cup have also featured in the discussion.
Mbappe’s France finished fourth at the tournament, but the forward emerged as its top scorer, a distinction that Courtois believes reinforces his individual credentials.
The debate continues to centre on whether individual performances or team honours should carry greater weight in determining the Ballon d’Or winner.
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