It’s the question haunting the Bernabéu faithful: Is Real Madrid too reliant on Kylian Mbappé?
The evidence is mounting and alarming. Real Madrid’s recent stumbles the frustrating 1-0 defeat against Liverpool and the disappointing 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano are no coincidence. They align perfectly with a rare scoring drought from their French superstar, a player who has otherwise dominated the score sheets this season.
As detailed by BeSoccer Pro data, the results for Xabi Alonso’s side take a catastrophic hit whenever the team's number 10 fails to find the back of the net. This over-reliance was noticeable last season under Carlo Ancelotti, but it has become even more pronounced in the current 2025-26 campaign.
The Alarming Numbers
Mbappé has been clinical, scoring in all but four major matches this season (the wins against Mallorca and Juventus, and the recent setbacks against Liverpool and Rayo Vallecano). But once the focus shifts to those rare off-days, the dependence is starkly revealed.
Looking at the combined record across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, the statistical chasm is impossible to ignore:
Real Madrid when Mbappé scores: A dominant run of 38 wins, 2 draws, and only 4 defeats.
Real Madrid when Mbappé doesn't score: A precarious balance of 14 wins, 4 draws, and 13 defeats.
When Mbappé is silenced, Real Madrid loses almost as many games as they manage to win. For a club with title aspirations, this near-parity between victory and defeat in the absence of one player's goals is a genuine crisis.
The Demand for Collaboration
This over-dependence signals a crucial tactical challenge for Xabi Alonso: he must urgently find a way to distribute the goal-scoring responsibility across the squad.
The figures show that the arrival of Mbappé has coincided with a decline in the output of other key players, notably Vinicius Junior. While Vinicius was the primary goal source in the 31 matches where Mbappé failed to score since joining the club (netting 13 times, mostly last season), his recent numbers need a boost.
The current hope lies in Jude Bellingham. While the English midfielder had a more discreet 2024-25 season compared to his blistering first year, his ability to step up in high-pressure moments is essential. His recent Champions League goal the solitary strike in a 1-0 victory was crucial precisely because it happened with Mbappé on the pitch but without the Frenchman scoring.
The rest of the squad, including Rodrygo, Fede Valverde, and Brahim, must significantly increase their goal contribution to ensure the team can weather Mbappé’s mini-droughts without throwing away points. Real Madrid's status as a European giant demands more collaboration, especially when their number 10 is struggling to unlock defensive lines. The road ahead for Alonso is clear: break the "Mbappé or bust" cycle, or risk title aspirations collapsing under the weight of one player’s shoulders.