Daryl Janmaat reveals why Kylian Mbappé is a World Cup 'machine'

Former Dutch defender Daryl Janmaat, who earned 34 caps for the Netherlands, recalled his final international appearance against France’s Kylian Mbappé in Paris. He described the French forward’s speed and aerial ability as “a machine” after a sprint duel with Daley Blind. The memory was shared during his appearance on the Studio Oranje podcast. Janmaat’s career spanned fifteen seasons, during which he faced many of the game’s great talents. His 34 international caps underline a long‑term presence in the Dutch side. The discussion was recorded for Studio Oranje, the official Oranje‑podcast produced by VP. Listeners can stream the episode on Spotify, where Janmaat expands on his World Cup experiences.

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Beyond the Mbappé anecdote, Janmaat touched on topics such as the tactical clash between Louis van Gaal and Ronald Koeman. He also highlighted the rise of Brian Brobbey and the role of Denzel Dumfries in the national team. Janmaat said, “I can remember a match. I was on the bench, that was in Paris I think. He wasn’t that well known yet. A long ball came and he had a sprint duel with Daley Blind and he won it.” “When he then collected the ball out of the air I thought: what is this? A real machine. He has such extreme qualities.”

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That encounter marked Janmaat’s last cap for the Netherlands, ending his international career on the field against a future star. He remained on the bench for much of the game, watching Mbappé’s explosive impact from the sidelines.