24 games in, Kylian Mbappé is heading into his first winter break as a Real Madrid player after a first five months in the white jersey which have proved more challenging than many initially expected.
The Frenchman has been the brutal scapegoat for a number of poor performances from his team, but finally appears to be finding his stride at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Following a brief spell on the sidelines with a muscle injury, Mbappé returned in December to score against Pachuca on the way to winning the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final and then followed it up with another goal in the La Liga game against Sevilla.
"His adaptation period is over," coach Carlo Ancelotti confidently stated in his press conference ahead of the team’s last game of the 2024 calendar year against Sevilla. "He is already showing a good version, although he can still improve. He has recovered from his last injury and I see him more motivated, excited. He needed this time, as anyone does, but it has now come to an end,” he continued.
Mbappé has been virtually ever-present when available for Real Madrid since arriving. There have only been three games in which Mbappé has not been on Ancelotti’s starting team-sheet, none of which have ended in victory for Los Blancos. Two were draws against Atlético Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, where Mbappé was absent due to muscle injuries, and a third was the 1-0 Champions League defeat to Lille where he was brought on as a second-half substitute.
Even so, the 26-year-old attacker has had questions asked of his commitment, as he initially struggled to find his place in a system which sought to deploy both Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior on the left side of an attack which became overloaded. It has only been in the past few weeks that Ancelotti seems to have found the best way of getting the most out of both, with the Brazilian swapping with Mbappé to use a more central position.
Mbappé’s strong goal return, even if he is ‘underperforming’
It seems a struggle to understand that a player with 14 goals at this stage of the season could be questioned so harshly, but it reflects a tricky period for Mbappé. Despite the fanfare and adoration of the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, he is yet to fully win over his new fans.
Chances have not been in short supply for Mbappé since he arrived at the club. His expected goals for the season sits at 16.43, some 2.43 higher than his actual goal return. He has averaged the highest number of shots and the highest number of shots on target per 90 minutes in La Liga this season at 4.8 shots and 2.5 on target per 90.
If we compare that to his goalscoring rival Vinícius Júnior, we see that the Brazilian has scored 13 goals, one fewer, from just 9.28 xG and 310 minutes fewer. He is much more clinical, with only 3.2 shots per 90 and 1 shot on target per 90, and yet his goal tally is only just behind his team-mate.
It is perhaps therein that Mbappé has his biggest challenge, that he is being compared to the most elite names in the game. Adapting to a new league, a new team, and for much of the opening period of the season, even a new position, is no mean feat, and Mbappé himself has recognized that, posting on social media to say, “I take full responsibility. It's a difficult time, but it's the best time to change this situation and show who I am.”
Mbappé’s reaction to his lowest point
He has reacted since then. That Instagram post followed a defeat to Athletic Club on December 4th, only a week after another loss against Liverpool at Anfield, where he missed penalties in both games.
In the four appearances which have followed, painfully interrupted by a muscle strain which sidelined him for just over a week, he has scored in all four. In the two outings since returning, against Pachuca and Sevilla, he has claimed both a goal and an assist in each. Claiming the MVP award against Sevilla in La Liga, he created more chances than any other player and scored the opening goal of the game.
If Ancelotti is right, and Mbappé has found his feet at Real Madrid, 2025 could be a big year ahead. It will start with the chance for the Frenchman to win his third silverware in a Real Madrid jersey in the Spanish Super Cup, and all eyes will be on him to lead the team to glory.