A wild night at the Bernabéu

Kylian Mbappé stole the show as Real Madrid returned to the Santiago Bernabéu. The Frenchman scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Matchday 2 of LaLiga, prompting a rare individual tribute from José Mourinho.

“There’s something I don’t like doing, but sometimes I have to. I don’t like talking about individuals, but what Kylian has done... it’s crazy,” Mourinho said after the game.

The goals were only part of what impressed him. Mourinho highlighted Mbappé's ability to drop deeper, link up with Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, and help Madrid progress when the team needed another way through. Still, he made sure to stress that “the team was always a team.”

One comparison Mou wanted no part of

Given the performance, one name inevitably entered the conversation. Cristiano Ronaldo was Mourinho's great goalscorer during his first spell at Real Madrid, and now the Portuguese coach has another prolific superstar leading his attack.

Mourinho had little interest in putting the two against each other. “I don't like comparisons, but this guy is incredible. What he does, his hunger...” he said.

He also pointed to Mbappé's historic achievement at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Frenchman became the tournament's all-time leading scorer. But Mourinho quickly returned to his broader point: however brilliant Mbappé was, Madrid's collective performance mattered most.

Far more than a striker waiting for the ball

What appears to impress Mourinho most about Mbappé is everything he offers beyond finishing chances. In his eyes, the Frenchman is anything but a traditional striker waiting inside the box for opportunities to arrive.

“Kylian isn't the typical forward who waits. You don't have to teach players like him anything,” Mourinho explained, while also highlighting the influence Mbappé has within the group.

After rewriting World Cup history this summer, the French star has wasted little time showing that his appetite for goals remains intact at the start of the new season.

Mourinho was waiting for one more

Three goals apparently weren't enough. Mourinho admitted that he kept Mbappé on the pitch to give him the chance to score a fourth, hoping his striker could turn a memorable hat-trick into an even bigger night.

His handling of Vinicius Jr. was different. The Brazilian was substituted after scoring, with Mourinho explaining that he wanted Vinicius to leave the pitch to a warm reception from the Bernabéu crowd.

It proved to be an almost perfect homecoming for Mourinho: four goals, three points and a sensational performance from his star striker. And despite his usual reluctance to single out individuals, even Mourinho couldn't hold back when it came to Mbappé.

3 Key Takeaways From Mourinho’s Press Conference

• Mourinho was blown away by Mbappé: He called the Frenchman's performance “crazy” and praised his ability to create and link up with Vinicius and Bellingham, not just score goals.
• He avoided the Cristiano Ronaldo comparison: Mourinho refused to put the two stars head-to-head, but called Mbappé “incredible” and highlighted his competitive hunger.
• He wanted a fourth goal: Mourinho revealed that he kept Mbappé on the pitch after his hat-trick to give him the opportunity to score one more.