“Best player in the world” – Bale defends Mbappé after missed penalty in Real Madrid’s loss to Liverpool

Former Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has come to the defense of Kylian Mbappé after the French star missed a decisive penalty during Real Madrid’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, Soccernet.football reports.

Despite the miss, which could have levelled the game at 1-1, Bale was quick to praise Mbappé’s quality, describing him as “the best player in the world” and urging patience.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Bale highlighted the unique pressures faced by players of Mbappé’s caliber:

“It does happen. I’ve missed penalties; everyone’s missed penalties. It’s just unfortunate that at the moment it’s not quite going Mbappé’s way, but on his day, he’s the best player in the world. It’s only a matter of time before he comes good.”

The missed penalty was a pivotal moment in the match. With Liverpool already leading through Alexis Mac Allister’s first-half strike, Caoimhín Kelleher’s save from Mbappé’s spot kick kept the Reds in control before Cody Gakpo’s late goal sealed the result.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged Mbappé’s recent struggles, describing them as a “lack of confidence,” but insisted patience is needed.

Teammate Jude Bellingham echoed Bale’s sentiments, defending the forward: “The penalty is not the reason why we lost. Kylian can keep his head high. I know for sure he’ll produce many more moments that are huge for this club.”

With only two wins from five Champions League games, Real Madrid now face a battle to qualify for the knockout stages. Their next challenges include Atalanta and RB Salzburg, while they host Getafe in La Liga this weekend.