Mbappe's goal haul puts Vinicius and Rodrygo in the shade

BeSoccer 2 months ago 7k |

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Mbappe has been responsible for exactly one-third of Madrid's league goals this season. BeSoccer

Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid's headline signing last summer, is living up to expectations in front of the goal. The Frenchman has netted 22 of the team's 66 La Liga goals so far this season, compared to Vinicius Junior's 11 and Rodrygo's six.

If any player is clearly dictating the pace of Madrid's attack, it is Kylian Mbappe. The Bondy-born star, who arrived at the Bernabeu last summer, has scored a staggering 34 goals in 51 appearances this season—numbers that already surpass those of his idol Cristiano Ronaldo in his first year at the club.

Breaking down the figures, 22 of those goals have come in 29 La Liga matches, meaning the Frenchman has been responsible for exactly one-third (33.3%) of Real Madrid's league goals this campaign.

The forward has carried the attacking burden of a front three that also includes Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo—neither of whom come close to matching his output. Mbappe has scored twice as many league goals as Vinicius (11 in 27 matches), and more than three times as many as Rodrygo (6 in 30).

His impact has been immediate and decisive, spearheading a front line that has kept Madrid in contention for a third trophy this season. They have already secured two titles: the UEFA Super Cup at the start of the campaign and the Intercontinental Cup at the end of 2024—both finals in which Mbappe found the net.

Mbappe ascends, Vini and Rodrygo lose their spark

The arrival of Mbappe has undeniably overshadowed the two Brazilians, whose form has dipped notably. In league play, Vinicius has gone no more than six matches without scoring.

Rodrygo, by contrast, is enduring a 13-match goalless run that began on 19 January, when he scored in a 4-1 win over Las Palmas. Since then, he has failed to find the back of the net.

That stands in stark contrast to Mbappe. He has only gone three consecutive matches without scoring—and that came at the very start of the 2024/25 season. He failed to score against Mallorca, Valladolid and Las Palmas, but from the fourth match (against Real Betis) onwards, he hit top gear.

In his first season in white, the Frenchman has scored against no fewer than 15 La Liga sides: Betis (2), Real Sociedad (1), Espanyol (1), Alaves (1), Celta (1), Leganes (3 across two matches), Getafe (1), Girona (1), Sevilla (1), Las Palmas (2), Valladolid (3), Atletico Madrid (1), Osasuna (1), Rayo Vallecano (1) and Villarreal (2).

Only four sides have kept him out: Athletic Club, Valencia, Barcelona and Mallorca—although he will have the chance to rectify that against the latter two before the season ends. Back from suspension, the Bondy-born striker has four league matches remaining to sharpen his finishing ahead of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.