Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2024 triggered one of the most talked-about transfer bombshells in world football history. Expectations weighed heavily on the French striker’s shoulders, not only to help Real Madrid dominate collective titles, but also to inherit the legendary number 9 shirt and the immense goal-scoring legacy left by his childhood idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. Now, as the 2025/26 season officially concludes, the statistics reveal an astonishing truth: Mbappe is on the path to becoming a legend at the fastest possible speed. After only two seasons in Spain, the French captain has amassed a collection of individual titles that any top striker would envy. The image with the code “image_ae4bc4.jpg” is the clearest visual evidence of this journey. The top part of the image depicts superstar Cristiano Ronaldo smiling brightly alongside his three Pichichi trophies (La Liga top scorer awards) won in the 2010/11, 2013/14, and 2014/15 seasons. Below, Kylian Mbappe appears with a determined gaze towards the future, accompanied by two blue checkmarks for two consecutive Pichichi titles in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, and a loading icon for the upcoming 2026/27 season. The message is incredibly powerful: With just one more top scorer title, Mbappe will officially equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of three Pichichi wins with Real Madrid. Looking back at his journey, fans can clearly see the fearsome killer instinct of the former PSG striker.
In his debut season (2024/25), despite immense media pressure and the need to adapt to a new tactical system, Mbappe exploded onto the scene, scoring 31 goals in domestic competitions, easily winning his first Pichichi award and the European Golden Boot. In his second season (2025/26), despite facing a turbulent period, plagued by rumors of dressing room discord and a persistent knee injury that kept him out of action, Mbappe still managed to make his mark. In the final match of the season against Athletic Club, the 27-year-old star shone with a goal in the 50th minute, contributing significantly to Real Madrid’s 4-2 victory. This goal not only sealed his total of 25 goals in La Liga this year, but also officially helped him beat his closest pursuer, Vedat Muriqi of Mallorca (who finished the season with 23 goals), to successfully defend his Pichichi title. Winning the Spanish Golden Boot race with only 31 appearances – significantly fewer than his rivals’ 37 – further highlights the exceptional goal-scoring performance of the number 9 striker.
Mbappe’s achievement of successfully defending the Pichichi title for two consecutive seasons has elevated him to the pantheon of living legends. For the past 38 years in La Liga, a league known for its fierce competition, only two names have been able to maintain their dominance of the top scorer title for many consecutive years: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. By achieving this in his first two seasons at Real Madrid, Mbappe proved that he was not overwhelmed by the shadow of his predecessors. At the age of 27, he boasts a total of 425 professional goals, officially placing him in the top 60 greatest goalscorers in football history.
However, the picture at Madrid is not just a rosy picture of individual accolades. The 2025/26 season witnessed a bitter paradox for both Mbappe and the Spanish royal club. While the number 9 consistently scored goals to bring personal glory, Real Madrid suffered a complete domestic and European failure, failing to win any major titles. The lack of cohesion in their play, culminating in humiliating defeats against direct competitors, plunged the Los Blancos dressing room into a gloomy atmosphere. There were even times when Mbappe had to endure fierce boos from his own fans in the Bernabeu stands, who believed his presence disrupted the team’s balance. Furthermore, Real Madrid’s trophyless season severely jeopardized Mbappe’s chances of winning the “La Liga Player of the Season” award. Despite being on the shortlist alongside names like Vedat Muriqi and Nicolas Pepe, the French superstar faced intense competition from Barcelona’s prodigy, Lamine Yamal. Many experts and even Madridistas openly admitted that, although Yamal scored fewer goals (16 compared to Mbappe’s 25), his influence on the team’s overall play, consistency, and direct contributions to Barcelona’s championship win made him more deserving of the award.
