Neither Vinicius nor Jude Bellingham—two stars who have lit up the Santiago Bernabeu in recent seasons—could rival the impact of one man in the 2024-25 campaign.
Neither Vinicius nor Jude Bellingham—two stars who have lit up the Santiago Bernabeu in recent seasons—could rival the impact of one man in the 2024-25 campaign. Kylian Mbappe, in his first year at Real Madrid, has officially been named the club’s Player of the Season. And while his rise has not been without controversy, the Frenchman’s debut has been nothing short of astonishing. His numbers tell one story. The emotion, expectation, and moments of brilliance tell another.
When the Frenchman made his long-awaited move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid last summer, expectations soared. Many saw it as a natural progression—a generational talent joining the most storied club in Europe. The reigning La Liga and Champions League holders had secured the jewel of world soccer. Yet, his early months in Madrid didn’t quite meet the sky-high expectations.
His adaptation was gradual. There were questions about his fit, about his chemistry with Vinicius Jr., and whether Carlo Ancelotti could unlock the very best of him.
Meteoric rise in 2025
But once the calendar flipped to 2025, so did Mbappe’s fortunes. He exploded into form, unleashing a barrage of goals that turned doubts into admiration. In La Liga, he scored 29 goals in just 33 games, establishing himself as the front-runner for the Pichichi Trophy. Across all competitions, his tally reached 40 goals in 54 appearances, a stunning return by any measure.
“Mbappe has certainly kept his side of the bargain in terms of goals scored,” noted a report by StatsPerform.
The numbers become even more remarkable when viewed across his career:
- Monaco (2015-17): 60 matches, 27 goals
- PSG (2017-24): 308 matches, 256 goals
- Real Madrid (2024-): 55 matches, 41 goals
- Total: 423 matches, 324 goals
In the Champions League, Mbappe’s record now reads 55 goals in 87 appearances, a tally he hopes to extend in the coming seasons.
Goals without glory
Yet, while his individual brilliance has never been in doubt, Los Blancos’ season as a whole ended in disappointment. The club failed to retain their Champions League title, fell to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, and watched their Catalan rivals lift the Spanish league trophy.
In El Clasico, Mbappe’s performances were inconsistent. Despite scoring a hat-trick in the final showdown of the season, his side lost 4-3, making it four defeats in four Clasicos. The 26-year-old star struggled to influence earlier Champions League matches as well, failing to score in four of his first five appearances.
Still, his hat-trick against Manchester City in Europe provided a glimpse of his immense potential on the biggest stages.
