Kylian Mbappé’s arrival at Real Madrid has turned the club’s attacking hierarchy on its head. In just a few months, the French striker has already established himself as the leader of the Merengue attack, seemingly relegating Vinicius Jr to the background. With 25 goals in February, Mbappé has already surpassed Vinicius’ personal record for a single season with Madrid.
It didn’t take long for Kylian Mbappé to make his mark for Madrid. Against Osasuna, the native of Bondy scored his 25th goal of the season, illustrating his formidable efficiency. By way of comparison, Vinicius Jr’s best season in terms of goals dates back to 2023/24, when he hit 24. That figure, which established him as a serious contender for the Ballon d’Or, has now been surpassed by his French team-mate in just 6 months.
The gap in performance between the two players raises many questions. Vinicius, a Real Madrid mainstay since 2018, is seeing his influence called into question. If Mbappé has already surpassed Vinicius in terms of statistics, it is above all thanks to his outstanding goalscoring profile. His positional sense, speed and clinical finishing allow him to capitalise on every opportunity. Vinicius, on the other hand, shines more brightly for his creativity, his ability to dribble and to dynamise defences. However, his lack of effectiveness in front of goal prevents him from reaching the heights of his team-mate.
Vinicius Jr's best “Ballon D’Or” season – 24 goals
— Kylian Mbappe is the GOAT (@Tezzathekchen) February 15, 2025
“Finished” Mbappe’s season so far – 25 goals
We’re in February
pic.twitter.com/tgIoKhyF8p
Real Madrid’s style of play also seems to favour Mbappé. With a team built around his speed and finishing instinct, the former Parisian has plenty of possession. Vinicius, more unpredictable and often off-centre, suffers from a role that is less focused on finishing. He has not scored in La Liga for several games now. Kylian, on the other hand, finds the back of the net in almost every Real Madrid game now.
Towards a change of hierarchy at Real Madrid?
With Mbappé’s goalscoring pace at an all-time high, he could reach 40 by the end of the season, especially with the Club World Cup in his sights. This numerical dominance is putting Vinicius under pressure, as he finished runner-up to Manchester City’s Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Far from being in crisis, the Brazilian must now prove that he can match the consistency of his team-mate, who is used to finishing top scorer in every competition in which he participates for club and country.
Could Carlo Ancelotti adapt his system to maintain the balance between the two stars? In any case, Vinicius will no doubt have to adjust his game if he is to remain a key component of Madrid’s attack and not see his role reduced to that of a mere facilitator for Mbappé. Real Madrid have never been short of attacking talent, but in this battle for supremacy, only the best will survive. It remains to be seen whether Vinicius Jr can reverse the trend and once again become Madrid’s strongest man.
Leave a Reply