Why Mbappe Faces Real Madrid Pressure Despite Ronaldo-Matching Numbers
Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid as a free agent in 2024 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain as the Ligue 1 club’s all-time top scorer. He then inherited the iconic No.9 shirt once worn by Cristiano Ronaldo and adapted quickly to life in the Spanish capital. Although some doubted whether he could lead the line as a central striker rather than drift in from the left, a 44-goal debut season and a Golden Boot award soon quieted the skeptics.
Since then, Mbappe has racked up 86 goals in 103 appearances, a return that matches Ronaldo’s own numbers over his opening two campaigns following his blockbuster 2009 move to the Bernabeu. However, silverware has proven elusive. Beyond the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup, Mbappe has yet to land a major trophy, and Ballon d’Or recognition still eludes him too. Meanwhile, PSG has continued winning Champions League titles without him, which naturally adds to the frustration. Ronaldo, by contrast, eventually finished his Madrid career with 450 goals and six consecutive 50-goal seasons.
Mourinho Tasked With Turning Mbappe Real Madrid Pressure Into Trophies
Speaking to GOAL courtesy of ESPN on Disney+, former Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman addressed the scrutiny surrounding Mbappe’s partnership with Vinicius Junior. He suggested the criticism is unusual rather than fully justified, noting that both players look like genuine superstars individually, yet their combined output hasn’t translated into trophies. According to McManaman, following Real Madrid means understanding that anything short of major honours is treated as a disappointment, particularly with Barcelona’s continued success.
Still, McManaman remained optimistic, pointing out that Real Madrid have come close in several competitions and simply need a spark to get over the line. He indicated that new manager Jose Mourinho, who returns to Real Madrid after 13 years, has been hired specifically to end Barcelona’s dominance rather than manage individual talent. As Mourinho prepares for his first league match back in charge against Espanyol this Saturday, expectations remain sky-high, and Mbappe’s continued goal-scoring form will be central to any hopes of silverware this season.
