Few rivalries in modern football have developed as quickly as the one between Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe.
Although the Barcelona winger is eight years younger than the Real Madrid forward, the pair have repeatedly crossed paths over the last two and a half years, with the balance increasingly swinging in the Spaniard’s favour.
Spain’s FIFA World Cup triumph over France has added another chapter to that story.
It was another occasion in which Yamal ended on the winning side, extending a remarkable head-to-head record that has become one of the defining individual battles in both club and international football.
Lamine Yamal vs Kylian Mbappe
The rivalry started in April 2024, when Barcelona met Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals.
At the time, Yamal was still taking his first steps at the highest level, while Mbappe was already one of the world’s biggest stars.
Year Competition Result
2023/24 UCL quarter-final first leg PSG 3 Barcelona 2
2023/24 UCL quarter-final second leg Barcelona 1 PSG 4 (Mbappe 2G, Lamine 1A)
2024 EURO semi-final Spain 2 France 1 (Lamine 1G, Mbappe 1G)
2024–25 La Liga Real Madrid 0 Barcelona 4 (Lamine 1G)
2024–25 Spanish Super Cup final Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 5 (Mbappe 1G, Lamine 1G)
2024–25 Copa del Rey final Barcelona 3 Real Madrid 2 (Mbappe 1G, Lamine 2A)
2024–25 La Liga Barcelona 4 Real Madrid 3 (Mbappe 3G, Lamine 1A)
2025 Nations League semi-final Spain 5 France 4 (Lamine 2G, Mbappe 1G)
2025-26 La Liga Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 1 (Mbappe 1G)
2025–26 Spanish Super Cup final Barcelona 3 Real Madrid 2
2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final Spain 2 France 0
PSG eventually progressed, handing Mbappe his first significant victory over the teenager. Since then, however, the picture has changed dramatically.
Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid transformed every El Clasico into another rivalry between the two, while regular clashes between Spain and France on the international stage have added even greater significance to their encounters.
Following Spain’s latest victory, Yamal has now finished on the winning side nine times, compared to two victories for Mbappe across their meetings.
The Real Madrid forward still holds the advantage when it comes to goals, having scored nine compared to Yamal’s seven, but the Barcelona youngster has come out on top when the stakes have been highest.
Biggest matches have favoured the Barcelona star
One of the most striking aspects of their rivalry is where those victories have come.
Lamine Yamal, Spain and Barcelona player
Lamine Yamal has won nine matches against Kylian Mbappe. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
In knockout matches and finals, Yamal has found a way to emerge victorious.
The only notable exception remains Barcelona’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, when Mbappe inspired the French side to progress.
Since then, the momentum has shifted.
Whether representing Barcelona in domestic competition or Spain on the international stage, Yamal has frequently found himself celebrating while Mbappe has been left chasing the result.
As such, the World Cup meeting followed a similar pattern. Although the Barcelona winger did not score, his relentless pressing forced the mistake that led to Spain’s opening goal, once again proving influential in a decisive fixture.