Kylian Mbappe and Brahim Diaz Compared: A Key Area of Overlap

Kylian Mbappe, the standout forward for Real Madrid, has been the team’s main source of goals. However, as Real Madrid struggles in the league and Mbappe continues to score, questions arise about whether he is hindering the team’s overall performance for his own benefit, much like his experience at PSG.

This issue was evident throughout the 2024/25 season when Mbappe earned the European Golden Boot, yet Real Madrid finished without any trophies after winning La Liga and the Champions League previously without him. Meanwhile, players like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, and Jude Bellingham appeared less effective with his presence on the field.

In 2025, Mbappe is breaking goal-scoring records, reaching an impressive total of 66 goals, putting him in the same conversation as legends such as Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi.

Despite those goals, he has only managed 5 assists this year, which is disappointing. That number is equal to Brahim Diaz’s assists, even though Diaz rarely plays.

Vinicius Junior, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde, and Rodrygo Goes have all provided more assists than Mbappe this season, making him the least effective of the main attacking players when it comes to creating opportunities for teammates.

This presents a major concern. Although Mbappe is scoring at a remarkable rate, his low assist count compared to Messi or Cristiano shows he is not matching those legends in overall skill.

For Mbappe to enhance his game, he needs to improve his creative contributions. If he aims to be a striker who operates outside the box, he must also focus on facilitating plays like a complete striker.

Players like Harry Kane and Karim Benzema, who often drop deeper to engage with the ball, are more helpful to their teammates. Mbappe is undeniably talented, but to secure his place among the all-time greats, he must elevate his performance beyond just scoring goals.