Real Madrid choose Mbappé

In the week of the conclave, one conclusion stood out: we have a leader. That’s the lasting impression from Montjuïc — and from this season overall. The team’s flagship is Mbappé, as it should be. And that’s despite the fact that we haven’t seen the most spectacular version of Kylian — far from the dominantly explosive figure who once dazzled Chamartín. Still, he’s been one of the best performers this season. And among the Fantastic Four, undoubtedly the standout.

His form has been inconsistent, and he’s yet to deliver in the season’s biggest nights, but the numbers are there — and that counts. It counts for a lot.

The stats speak volumes. Mbappé is now the highest-scoring debutant in the club’s history: 39 goals. In El Clásico, he overtook Zamorano (37 goals in his debut season with Madrid in 1992–93), and left behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy (33), as well as Ronaldo Nazário (30). Yesterday, he also became the first player in history to score two hat-tricks at the Camp Nou — one now, and the other with PSG in 2021.

That hat-trick propelled him to the top of the Pichichi race — with three games to go, he’s two goals ahead of Lewandowski. A minor consolation, maybe, but a powerful statement on an individual level. That’s Mbappé: in a season lacking fluid football and while playing out of position, he’s netted 39 goals. He’s on track to surpass 50, with three LaLiga games remaining and the entire Club World Cup ahead. It’s within reach.

His tally so far: 27 in LaLiga, 7 in the Champions League, 2 in the Copa del Rey, and one apiece in the Intercontinental Cup, European Super Cup, and Spanish Super Cup.

He’s the team’s leader — hands down. He’s scored nearly twice as many goals as Vinicius (21), and almost three times as many as Rodrygo (14), who’s third. And again, this isn’t even the best version of Mbappé. The takeaway? The club is convinced of his talent, and believes that if a project is built around him, it could be something extraordinary.

In the Clásico, he was all alone: responsible for 56% of the team’s shots (five, when no other player had more than one) and 80% of those on target (four of five). He scored all three goals — and it could’ve been four, had he timed his run better to beat the offside trap.

This season has largely been about Mbappé — with a few caveats — and not much else up front. Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Bellingham have all fallen short of last season’s levels. So the decision is made: looking forward, the leader must be Kylian. In the Spanish capital, they believe he’s earned it — even ahead of Vinicius. Pure meritocracy.

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They’ll have to coexist, of course — Vinicius is set to renew for another three seasons. But the changing of the guard is real. Heading into next season, the roadmap is clear: Mbappé, and 24 more.

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