Mbappé Undermining Vinicius's Best Form

Kylian Mbappé's prolific goal-scoring form took a hit after a knee sprain in early December hampered his performance. This injury opened the door for Vinicius Junior to lead Real Madrid's attack and boost the confidence of a team that had seemed adrift.

Without Mbappé, Real Madrid played some of their strongest matches of the season, eliminating Manchester City in the Champions League and maintaining their challenge against Barcelona in La Liga. The Frenchman had pushed his knee to such an extent that he eventually paid the price, missing seven games since the start of 2026 and leaving the team's offensive responsibilities in the hands of his teammate.

A Surge Forward
Arbeloa committed to Vinicius from the outset, to the point where the Brazilian became Real Madrid's top scorer since the beginning of the year. He boasts 12 goals, two more than the Frenchman, despite having played 770 more minutes. The Brazilian soared on the pitch once again, feeling important and happy, just as he had before his colleague's arrival.

But beyond the goals, which serve as an indicator of the Brazilian's return to form, what Madrid achieved was to tighten their lines and display a footballing version unseen since last season. So much so that it enthused their fans, who finally enjoyed their team's play. And they did it without Mbappé and Bellingham, two of their main stars.

All Together Now
However, this enthusiasm proved to be a mirage. The Frenchman's return did not benefit the team or Vinicius, while Jude Bellingham's presence remains to be seen if it's positive, especially with Arda Güler performing well in the Englishman's position. Within Madrid circles, questions are beginning to arise about whether Mbappé's role is beneficial for the collective.

No one doubts he is one of the best players in the world, but as Alfredo Di Stéfano used to say: "One player is not better than everyone together." The big question is whether Mbappé disrupts this unity in his individualistic pursuit of solely scoring goals, neglecting collective duties.

No Defensive Contribution
"I defend less than others, but when I do, it has a real impact on the team," the Frenchman admitted with a touch of arrogance. "When I defend, it's noticeable that everyone else does too." The problem is, he almost never does, which undermines the system and strategy proposed by the coaches who have sat on the bench.

The facts show that Mbappé's presence does not favor Vinicius's play, who admits he struggles to link up with his teammate, despite maintaining "excellent relations." Kylian encroaches on his area of influence, fails to read his movement on counter-attacks, doesn't create space for him by drawing defenders – quite the opposite – and struggles to find open positions to receive the ball with an advantage. Despite everything, Vinicius has provided him with five assists, compared to zero from the Frenchman.

Commentary by Alejandro Alcaraz from "Sport"