Deprived of Vinicius Junior during Matchday 20 of La Liga, Real Madrid cruised past Las Palmas with a 4-1 victory. With an unstoppable Kylian Mbappé, Carlo Ancelotti’s team impressed with their gameplay. After the match, a heated debate arose about the two stars of the team, who struggle to perform and convince when playing together.
Real Madrid has a “rich man’s problem.” Possessing two of the best forwards in the world right now, Florentino Pérez’s club has yet to find a way to make them shine together. Since his arrival in the Spanish capital last July, Kylian Mbappé has been scoring and assisting, just like Vinicius Junior, who has been with the club for years. However, in recent weeks, the French forward has been taking a significant lead with an incredible rise in form. Against Las Palmas this Sunday, during Matchday 20 of La Liga, KM9 demonstrated that he can single-handedly make Vini’s absence a non-issue.
What’s wrong with Vinicius and Mbappé on the pitch?
As several observers point out, the chemistry between the two big names in Madrid’s squad poses a challenge. Both are most comfortable on the left wing and occasionally produce brilliant performances together. But for one to truly shine, the other must either perform poorly or be entirely absent. One recalls that, at the beginning of his tenure with Real Madrid, Mbappé was the most criticised player for his underwhelming performances despite scoring a few crucial goals. Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior met expectations with consistent, polished performances.
However, since the remarkable resurgence of the former Paris Saint-Germain player, the Brazilian winger—who clinched two prestigious individual awards at the end of 2024—seems lost. Suspended against Sevilla at the end of the year for accumulating yellow cards, Vinicius Junior further tarnished his reputation with an overreaction early in the year that earned him a red card and a two-match suspension in La Liga. With Mbappé now in sole control, he is seizing the moment to deliver sensational performances.
In the 2025 Spanish Super Cup, KM9 was the standout. Crucial against Mallorca, the French forward dazzled in the final, even though Real lost 5-2 to Barça. While Vinicius struggled to display his dribbling and scoring skills, Mbappé single-handedly tormented the Catalan defence. Subsequently, whether against Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey or against Las Palmas, the Frenchman has been on a roll, while his counterpart is but a shadow of his former self.
Are Mbappé and Vinicius incapable of thriving together?
Today, the question arises. Real Madrid’s plan to bolster the team by adding Kylian Mbappé to a thriving Vinicius Junior in hopes of becoming unstoppable has not gone as expected. With their star status, the two players simply aren’t complementary. Where Vini should pass or assist, he overplays or insists on finishing himself—the same applies to the Frenchman. Likely motivated by the pursuit of major individual awards, the two forwards are fuelling a rivalry that doesn’t serve the team’s best interests.
When Mbappé is unavailable, Rodrygo Goes, who always plays for the team, performs well alongside Vinicius Junior. Against Las Palmas on Sunday, the interplay between KM9 and Goes on the left wing was delightful. Ultimately, the abundance of talent in Madrid’s squad seems to be a disadvantage. When all the stars are on the pitch, either one must shine less for the other to excel, or the team becomes defensively unbalanced.
The drastic solution
Given the situation, it seems evident that Real Madrid needs to part ways with one of its key players to restore stability. With the facts being undeniable, the Madrid hierarchy must seriously consider restructuring the squad to prevent the rivalry between the two stars from jeopardising the club’s objectives. Speaking of restructuring, Florentino Pérez might not oppose Vinicius Junior’s departure if a lucrative offer were to materialise.
A bigger fan of Kylian Mbappé—who is adored by Madrid fans for his approach, which aligns better with the club’s image (especially in terms of communication)—the Madrid president might not hesitate to let the Brazilian winger, who has attracted interest from Saudi clubs, move on. Already criticised in Europe, particularly in Spain, for his fiery temperament, Vinicius might decide to leave everything behind and pursue wealth in Saudi Arabia. In such a case, the Madrid team would be left with KM9 as the sole leader, surrounded by key supporting players.
While this is a drastic solution that many may not appreciate, it appears to be the best one. With Carlo Ancelotti unlikely to bench one of his key players for the sake of the other, the team’s stability is at risk. Given that Real Madrid’s defensive solidity stems from a collective effort, having two stars who don’t contribute defensively on the pitch is a significant gamble. In any case, the right questions need to be asked, and real solutions found, to ensure Real continues to shine on the international stage.
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