Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has addressed recent comparisons regarding his defensive work rate compared to Barcelona attackers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. When asked about the suggestion that the Barcelona pair defends more effectively than he and Vinicius, Mbappe replied, “I could play dumb and tell you that I score more than the two.”
Since joining Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, Mbappe has netted 92 goals across all competitions. This season, he has recorded four goals in four La Liga appearances. In that same timeframe, Yamal and Raphinha have tallied 46 and 61 goals respectively, with four and six goals in their four league outings this campaign. The recent discourse follows a weekend where Real Madrid suffered a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis, a match in which Mbappe missed a late penalty. Conversely, Barcelona secured a 5-0 victory over Valencia, with Yamal scoring twice and Raphinha adding another, moving the Catalan side three points clear at the top of the table.
Both players are coming off productive 2025-26 campaigns. Mbappe tallied 42 goals and seven assists in 44 matches for Los Blancos, securing his second consecutive Pichichi award with 25 league goals. He also added 15 strikes in the UEFA Champions League before Madrid’s quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich. During the same period, Yamal recorded 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 appearances, playing a key role as Hansi Flick’s side successfully defended their La Liga title ahead of Madrid.
The rivalry extended into the summer of 2026, where Mbappe claimed his second Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup in North America, scoring 10 goals for France as they finished fourth. Yamal, meanwhile, contributed a goal and an assist in eight matches to help Spain win the tournament, making him the youngest player to achieve the European Championship and World Cup double. The report also notes that meanwhile, Yamal (twice) and Raphinha scored in Barca’s thumping 5-0 victory at Valencia, which sent them three points clear of their arch-rivals atop the standings after four matches. The report also notes that while the Frenchman ended the season without any silverware, Yamal won the La Liga-Supercopa de Espana double. The report also notes that finishing ahead of Mbappe and Co, he contributed 16 strikes and 12 assists in La Liga as Hansi Flick’s side successfully defended their title.
