No debate: Why 26-year-old star is Real Madrid’s biggest blessing this season | OneFootball

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has proven time and again that striking first is often the key to victory.

Whether it is breaking the deadlock or sparking a comeback, the French forward has been Real Madrid’s go-to player for opening the scoring.

His ability to set the pace of a match has been nothing short of remarkable as he has consistently been the one to put Carlo Ancelotti’s side on the front foot.

A look at Mbappe’s numbers

Mbappe has been in outstanding form, netting 14 goals in his last 11 matches. Throughout the season, he has scored the opening goal for Real Madrid in 15 out of the 41 games played.

In several of those instances, his goals either gave Madrid an early lead or ignited a crucial comeback.

This was evident in key matches, such as the derby against Las Palmas and Manchester City, where his goals helped the team bounce back.

Kylian Mbappe has been a blessing for Real Madrid. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Breaking down his contributions further, eight of his opening goals have come in La Liga, four in the Champions League, one in the Copa del Rey against Celta Vigo, one in the Intercontinental Cup, and another in the Spanish Super Cup final.

The only match Madrid failed to win when Mbappe scored was El Clasico. In every other game where he found the net, the team secured 19 wins and two draws.

Further stats

His goals have been vital in Real Madrid’s title challenge, directly contributing to 14 points in La Liga while playing a role in gaining another three. A significant portion of Madrid’s 51 points this season can be credited to his impact on the pitch.

With 28 goals across all competitions—17 of them in La Liga—Mbappe is the club’s leading scorer. However, he is not done yet.

He has set himself two major targets for the remainder of the season: reaching the remarkable milestone of 50 goals, something only Cristiano Ronaldo has managed at Madrid, and competing for the league’s top scorer title against Robert Lewandowski.