Kylian Mbappé has arrived at Real Madrid with the mission of making a difference, and although he has started to meet expectations, his path has not been easy. In a season that has proven complicated for the white club, the French forward has had to deal with the pressure of being the new galactic of the team.
Since his arrival, Mbappé has had to adapt to an environment that, at first, proved challenging. At the beginning of the year, the player admitted that he was not living up to what was expected of him, acknowledging that his anxiety to perform was preventing him from showing his best game. “Thinking too much about the matches and how to move in the number nine position limited me,” confessed the striker after a season start in which he scored 15 goals in 33 matches.
However, 2025 has brought a radical change in his performance. In just 20 matches, he has managed to score 25 goals, allowing him to surpass Iván Zamorano's record as the highest-scoring debutant in the club's history, reaching a total of 39 goals. Although his hat-trick against Barcelona was not enough to secure victory, it has placed him in the race for the Pichichi of LaLiga, leading the table with 27 goals.
A path full of obstacles
Despite his impressive figures, Mbappé's season has been marked by difficult moments. His missed penalty in the defeat against Athletic in December was a turning point that led him to reflect on his role in the team. “I take full responsibility for it. It’s a tough moment, but it’s the best time to change this situation and show who I am,” he wrote on social media, highlighting his desire to improve.
Since then, he has raised his level of play, being fundamental in the Champions knockout stage against Manchester City, where he shone with a goal at the Etihad and a hat-trick in the return leg. However, his connection with Vinicius Jr. remains one of the team's major pending subjects, as the lack of understanding between them has been evident in several matches.
With 40 goals to his name, Mbappé is on par with legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who also reached similar figures in their first seasons. However, the Madridistas demand more than just numbers; they want to see greater involvement in collective play and a better fit with their teammates.
In summary, although Kylian Mbappé has begun to shine at Real Madrid, the team still has a long way to go to reach the level expected of a club of its stature. The pressure is on his shoulders, and time will tell if he can lead the team to the glory they so desperately seek.