Can Mbappé Carry Real Alone?

Long before Argentina lifted the 2021 Copa América, social media was flooded with a single refrain whenever the team struggled: “What can Messi do alone?” Today, the same question could justifiably be posed about Real Madrid, with Kylian Mbappé replacing Messi in this narrative.

Statistics make the answer painfully clear. Mbappé has been the one keeping Real’s hopes afloat, often appearing to shoulder the team’s attacking responsibility entirely on his own.

A recent example came in Real’s 4–2 defeat to Benfica in the UEFA Champions League. Despite the loss, Mbappé’s influence was unmistakable: he led the team in shots (4), dribbles (4), and attacking-third passes (22). He also created the second-most goal-scoring opportunities (3), behind only Arda Güler’s 6, and was the only Real player to find the net that evening.

Mbappé vs Teammates: Benfica Match Metrics

His season-long contributions further illustrate the imbalance. In 33 matches so far in the 2025–26 campaign, Real has scored 75 goals, of which 36 have been by Mbappé alone across 29 appearances. No other player has reached double figures: Vinícius has 7 goals, and Jude Bellingham 6. In La Liga, Mbappé tops the scoring charts with 21 goals in 20 matches. Vinícius, with 5 goals, ranks 23rd overall.

The gap becomes even more pronounced in Europe. In 7 Champions League matches, Mbappé has scored 13 goals, while Bellingham’s 2 goals place him 54th in the scoring table.

Real Madrid’s Key Goals: Mbappé vs Teammates (2025–26)

Despite Mbappé’s extraordinary form, Real is struggling to meet expectations. In La Liga, they trail Barcelona by a single point, while the Champions League exit to Benfica has forced them into a playoff just to reach the round of 16. Over the last 12 matches, Mbappé has scored 18 goals, including strikes against nine different opponents. Real has won seven of these games, drawn one, and only lost twice (to Celta Vigo and Barcelona), underscoring his pivotal role.

Mbappé’s performances echo Cristiano Ronaldo’s era at Real, when the Portuguese legend dominated scoring charts despite the presence of several stars. Mbappé has already broken Ronaldo’s Champions League group stage scoring record and is on pace to finish this season with potentially 66 goals, surpassing Ronaldo’s best tally of 61 in 2014–15. Currently, he accounts for 62% of Real’s goals in recent matches.

Yet football is a team sport, and even a player of Mbappé’s calibre cannot carry a team indefinitely. The question that haunts fans and pundits alike is the same as it once did for Messi: Can one player do it all?