Real Madrid News
First at Real Madrid: French superstar makes history after scoring at FIFA Club World Cup
Kylian Mbappe has proven himself to be quite an asset for Real Madrid ever since joining the club on a free transfer last summer.
The Frenchman won the Pichichi trophy ahead of Robert Lewandowski in his first season in La Liga while also bagging the European Golden Boot award.
But Mbappe’s impact at Real Madrid has not only been restricted to just La Liga. He has made an impact in every competition he has played in.
The former PSG superstar ended the 2024/25 campaign with as many as 43 goals in all competitions, ending as the club’s most productive player.
Mbappe makes history at Real Madrid
With his goal against Borussia Dortmund in the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal, Mbappe has become the first player in Real Madrid’s storied history to score in seven different competitions in a single season.
Indeed, the Frenchman has netted in La Liga, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, Copa Del Rey, Intercontinental Cup and now, the FIFA Club World Cup.
No player in Real Madrid’s long and decorated history, not Cristiano Ronaldo, not Alfredo Di Stefano, has achieved this feat before.
This speaks volume about the impact Mbappe has had at Real Madrid since joining the club.
Thanks to his stellar performance against Dortmund, Mbappe also made it to FIFA Club World Cup’s Team of the Week, along with his teammate Arda Guler.
One would now expect the Frenchman to help Los Blancos secure the FIFA Club World Cup title this summer, having already returned to full fitness.
Mbappe, in fact, may even start in Real Madrid’s semifinal clash, where he will take on his former club, Paris Saint-Germain.
After a disappointing defeat to Real Betis, Real Madrid returned to winning ways on Tuesday night, following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Inter Milan.
It was a tense game for Los Blancos, who had to hold on to their slender advantage in the last stretch of the game and were unable to score more goals after an early flurry that saw them gain a 2-0 advantage.
A worrying trend in front of goal
According to MARCA, Real Madrid lead all of Europe in big chances created with 27, but they also top a far less flattering chart, having squandered 19 of them.
That means Real Madrid are missing seven out of every ten clear opportunities they generate, the worst conversion rate on the continent.
Barcelona follow closely with the same number of chances created but a superior return, having wasted 15.
The issue has become a recurring theme in recent matches. Against Betis, Real Madrid dominated and accumulated three expected goals, including a penalty missed by Kylian Mbappe, yet still contrived to lose.
Against Inter, they again peppered the goal without the necessary precision to kill the game off.
Courtois to the rescue
The victory over Inter owed much to a superb performance from Thibaut Courtois, who produced several crucial saves to preserve the three points.
The two Real Madrid goals bore Mourinho’s trademark, both stemming from high pressing. Mbappe forced an error before finishing off Brahim Diaz’s assist, while Federico Valverde capitalised on hesitation from goalkeeper Josep Martinez.
However, having eased into a 2-0 lead, Real Madrid again passed up chance after chance, allowing Inter back into the contest through Lautaro Martinez’s late goal.
It must be noted Real Madrid had 35.6% possession against Inter ranking among the lowest recorded for the club in the Champions League.
For Mourinho, the ideal is clear: winning by finishing off the chances his side create. If Real Madrid can start converting at a rate befitting their creativity, they will become an even more fearsome proposition.
