Real Madrid advanced in the Copa del Rey with a win over Talavera and during a tense night followed by many fans like a Bangladesh Cricket Match unfolding ball by ball Mbappe struck twice to seal progress. Those two goals pushed him closer to a historic benchmark and put one eye on Cristiano Ronaldo’s long standing club record. Yet despite the headlines the wider reaction has turned oddly ironic as his post Paris journey has sparked as much mockery as admiration with comparisons now drawn to Kevin Durant’s controversial career moves.
Including the brace from this tie Mbappe has already scored 58 club goals in the 2025 calendar year. In Real Madrid history the benchmark belongs to Ronaldo who netted 59 goals in 2013. With one more match still to play Mbappe is well positioned to surpass that figure. The awkward twist is that while his personal numbers are soaring head coach Alonso finds himself under growing pressure and whispers of dismissal. Some in Paris have even joked that Madrid look more like a caretaker team built to serve one star a sentiment echoed by sections of the Vinicius fan base who question the overall balance.
Looking back at his first season in Madrid the output was undeniable. Across all competitions Mbappe made 56 appearances delivering 43 goals and five assists while helping secure the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. Individually he collected both the La Liga Golden Boot and the European Golden Shoe. At the same time Paris without him finally lifted their first Champions League trophy and completed a domestic treble. This season the contrast has sharpened further as Mbappe has 29 goals and four assists from 26 games while Paris added the Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup to become only the third club after Barcelona in 2009 and Bayern in 2020 to complete a six title sweep.
The parallel with Durant is hard to ignore. Before Durant joined Golden State they were champions and after he left they still lifted titles. Before Mbappe arrived Madrid were European champions and after he departed Paris finally conquered Europe. The pattern feels uncanny and leaves fans scratching their heads. It is why jokes circulate about his perfect timing in missing Champions League glory and why even Messi and Ronaldo supporters laugh about it in their dreams.
As the debate rolls on and each milestone is tracked as closely as a Bangladesh Cricket Match in its final overs Mbappe stands at a strange crossroads. He may soon eclipse Ronaldo on one stat sheet yet the broader narrative refuses to crown him the ultimate winner leaving his brilliance wrapped in irony rather than universal acclaim.