Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Friday, March 20, 2026, 6:05 p.m. / Updated Friday, March 20, 2026, 6:14 p.m.
Fernando Morientes (49 years old), the former great Spanish striker, declared that he sees only Kylian Mbappe as having value at the level of the “Galacticos” from the turn of the century: “As far as I know, Rudiger and Mbappe are the current leaders of the locker room at real madrid. But I decided on only one that could play in our team. And right in my place!”.
Fernando Morientes gave an interview to Post United in which he compares Real Madrid's current starting lineup to that of the “Galácticos” era. The most recent eleven blanco was: Thibaut Courtois – Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rudiger, Álvaro Carreras – Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde, Jude Bellingham – Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé.
Morientes: “Only the best player in Alvaro Arbeloa's squad would have been in the best “galactic” eleven”
The former winner of three Champions Leagues (1997-1998, 1999-2000, 2001-2002) and two titles in Spain (2000-2001, 2002-2003) performed in a formidable team, in which he was last on the list, alongside Iker Casillas – Michel Salgado, Iván Helguera, Fernando Hierro, Roberto Carlos – Claude Makelele, Santiago Solari, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Raúl González.
Kylian Mbappe in Real Madrid – Levante // photo: Guliver/gettyimages
“To avoid controversy, starting from this comparison, Fernando Morientes preferred all those who were his colleagues. Some of his choices, however, surprised Real Madrid supporters, as there are players from the “Galácticos” era who could be inferior to some of the current generation”, wrote the publication Defensa Central.
“Out of all of them I kept one. Only the best player in Alvaro Arbeloa's squad would feature in the past best eleven”, are the words of Morientes, after choosing Kylian Mbappé in his place!
🚨 FERNANDO MORIENTES (former player of Real Madrid): “Rüdiger and Mbappé are the leaders of the Real Madrid dressing room, that's what they said. Courtois? No, they told me that Mbappé and Rüdiger are the ones who mark the pass”.
(@MPlusDeportes) pic.twitter.com/XZ2dk4UbNW
— Naninho (@SrNaninho) February 18, 2026
“The fans are very much influenced by the image they have of Mbappé from 2022, when he renewed his agreement with PSG”
“The former Real Madrid star has no doubt that the French striker is the best footballer in the world at the moment, and not only for his goals, but also for his wide range of footballing qualities. Morientes believes that at the moment there is no one else who can be at his level.
Alin Stoica in a Champions League match played with Real Madrid between Fernando Morientes (left) and Roberto Carlos (right) before scoring at the “Santiago Bernabeu”
Morientes stated that Mbappé is the current leader of Real Madrid, alongside Rüdiger. Perhaps for this reason, he also prefers Kylian Mbappé to the rest of the current squad. Because, in addition to the fact that Kylian is the goalscorer, he heard that he also has that leadership role
– Central defenseSpanish publication
Many Real Madrid fans do not agree with Morientes, but it is also true that this is very much influenced by the image they have of Kylian Mbappé from 2022, because some still have not forgiven him for rejecting the blanco club then and renewing his contract with PSG”, concluded the source close to the team from the “Santiago Bernabeu”.
