A partnership waiting to explode

Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Junior are the faces of Real Madrid’s attack, but so far their on-field chemistry has been more promise than product. Last season, they both scored in the same game only eight times, and not since March 9 against Rayo Vallecano. Since then, they’ve shared the pitch in 13 of the last 22 matches… without celebrating together again.

Despite being the team’s biggest threats, their combined impact has yet to meet expectations. Both prefer to operate from the left wing, but the Frenchman has shown greater flexibility, while the Brazilian appears more comfortable when Mbappé is not in the starting eleven.

The numbers don’t lie

In the 47 matches they played together in the 2024/25 season, Vinícius clearly proved more generous: he registered 19 assists, five of them for Mbappé, including two in the unforgettable 4–3 win over Barcelona at Montjuïc.

Meanwhile, Mbappé recorded only five assists all season — just two of those for Vinícius. A gap that highlights how, up to now, the partnership has been more one-sided than reciprocal.

Xabi Alonso’s toughest test

With the new season already underway in Valdebebas and the LaLiga opener against Osasuna just around the corner, Xabi Alonso knows he needs more than individual brilliance — he needs chemistry. The new head coach wasn’t able to draw many conclusions from the Club World Cup, where Mbappé barely featured due to illness.

But if he can get his two superstars to connect, assist one another, and work for the team, Madrid’s front line will be lethal. If not, the imbalance could become a serious issue for his project.