Kylian Mbappé has made an unforgettable mark in his debut season with Real Madrid, breaking the club’s long-standing record for most goals in a debut campaign. The French star scored a stunning hat trick in Sunday’s 4-3 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona, taking his total tally to 39 goals across all competitions in the 2024-25 season. This feat eclipses the 37-goal record previously held by Chilean striker Iván Zamorano from the 1992-93 season.
Mbappé’s historic achievement, though coming in a painful Clásico loss, further solidifies his status as one of the sport’s elite forwards. The 25-year-old had already surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s 33-goal debut season from 2009-10 in April during the Copa del Rey final. Despite team setbacks, Mbappé’s individual brilliance continues to shine through, establishing him as Madrid’s most prolific debutant in its illustrious history.
Hat Trick Hero in a Losing Effort
The showdown at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys was billed as a title decider, and it delivered high drama and fireworks. Mbappé opened the scoring for Madrid with a clinical fifth-minute penalty and added a second just nine minutes later to give Los Blancos an early 2-0 lead. However, Barcelona stormed back, netting four unanswered goals before halftime to lead 4-2.
Mbappé completed his hat trick in the 70th minute with a simple close-range finish, bringing Madrid within one goal of a comeback. Yet despite a few late chances, including a disallowed equalizer for offside, the visitors couldn’t find the breakthrough to level the match. The defeat leaves Madrid seven points behind Barcelona with only three games left, all but handing the title to their fierce Catalan rivals.
Ancelotti Praises Attacking Intent, Laments Defensive Absences
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged both the brilliance and the shortcomings of his side after the match. “Mbappé did well. The chances we had were very clear, we attacked the space well,” he noted in his post-match comments. “We scored three, and we could have scored more. In attack, the team had a clear idea.”
However, the Italian coach also highlighted the team’s defensive woes, particularly in the first half. “We could have defended better. In the first 30 minutes, we should have done better. We mustn’t forget that we were missing five defenders today,” Ancelotti added. The absence of key defensive personnel was evident as Madrid struggled to contain Barça’s dynamic attack, especially during their four-goal blitz in the opening half.
Mbappé Delivers in Clásicos Despite Trophy Frustration
Despite his early-season criticism and enormous expectations, Mbappé has delivered consistently in high-stakes matches, especially against Barcelona. Sunday’s hat trick was his third goal-scoring performance in four Clásico fixtures this season. He also found the net in the Copa del Rey final and the Spanish Supercopa final—though both matches ended in defeats for Madrid.
The forward has been vocal about prioritizing team success over personal accolades. Earlier this season, Mbappé said his goals would be “all for nothing” if the team failed to win major trophies. While Madrid secured the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, they fell short in key domestic competitions and were eliminated from the Champions League in the quarterfinals, leaving Mbappé’s first year tinged with personal triumph but collective disappointment.
LaLiga Title Slips Away as Focus Turns to the Future
With only three matches remaining in the LaLiga season and a seven-point gap separating them from Barcelona, Real Madrid’s title hopes now hang by a thread. The loss in the Clásico effectively ends their pursuit of domestic league glory this term. For a club with Madrid’s lofty standards, this outcome is far from ideal, especially given the star power added last summer.
Nonetheless, Mbappé’s record-breaking debut campaign provides a silver lining and a solid foundation for future success. The Frenchman has settled into life in the Spanish capital with astonishing speed, proving he can carry the weight of the club’s expectations. With a summer of regrouping ahead and an eye on the 2025-26 season, Real Madrid will look to build around their new talisman and return to winning ways both in Spain and Europe.
