Before Argentina’s Copa América triumph in 2021, social media was rife with a question whenever the team struggled: “What can Messi do alone?” Today, Real Madrid find themselves in a similar predicament, only this time, Kylian Mbappé is in Messi’s shoes—and the question becomes, “Can Mbappé carry Real alone?”
Even without vocalising it, the statistics make the situation clear: Mbappé is the sole pillar of hope for Real Madrid. A recent illustration came in their Champions League clash against Benfica. Despite Real losing 4–2, Mbappé led the team in shots (4) and dribbles (4), while also providing the highest number of passes in the attacking third (22). He created the most scoring chances (3) after Arda Güler (6) and was the only player to score. Simply put, Mbappé was the only Real player putting in a decisive effort.
This pattern persists throughout the season. In the 2025–26 campaign so far, Real Madrid have scored 75 goals in 33 matches, of which Mbappé, in just 29 games, has netted 36 goals—more than half the team’s total. No other player has reached double figures: Vinícius Júnior follows with seven goals and Jude Bellingham with six.
Real Madrid Top Scorers 2025–26 Season
| Player | Matches Played | Goals | % of Team Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappé | 29 | 36 | 48% |
| Vinícius Júnior | 21 | 7 | 9% |
| Jude Bellingham | 20 | 6 | 8% |
Mbappé also dominates La Liga, scoring 21 goals in 20 matches, making it difficult to find another Real player in the league’s top scorers. Vinícius is second with just five goals, placing 23rd overall. In the Champions League, Mbappé has 13 goals in seven matches, far outpacing his teammates, with Bellingham the next highest scorer with only two goals, ranked 54th.
Despite Mbappé’s scoring prowess, Real’s reliance on him highlights a team imbalance. In La Liga, they trail Barcelona by just one point in second place. In the Champions League, the Benfica defeat forced them to play in the round of 16 playoffs. Even with Mbappé’s consistent goals, the team struggles when others fail to step up, making his efforts both impressive and a stark indicator of Real’s lack of collective firepower.
Over the last two months, Mbappé has scored 62.1% of Real’s goals, netting 18 times in the past 12 matches. The only matches he did not score were against Celta Vigo and Barcelona—both losses for Real. His remarkable output even surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary seasons at Real, when Ronaldo’s best was 61 goals in 2014–15, representing 37.6% of the team’s goals. With almost 24 matches still remaining, Mbappé’s current scoring rate of 1.24 goals per match could see him finish the season with 66 goals.
Mbappé is single-handedly carrying Real Madrid, but football is a team sport. And therein lies the question: can one man do it all?
