Mourinho asking Mbappe for more than just goals

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, August 29, 2026

Kylian Mbappe continued his strong La Liga performance by scoring a hat trick in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad, maintaining his position as the league’s top scorer. With the club still seeking a major trophy since his arrival in 2024, manager Jose Mourinho emphasized that Mbappe must combine his goal-scoring with leadership and teamwork to help end their title drought.

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has continued his impressive start to the 2026-27 La Liga season, currently leading the scoring charts after netting a hat trick in the team’s recent 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad. The French forward, who has topped the league’s scoring list in both prior seasons at the club, is set to face promoted side Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Manager Jose Mourinho praised Mbappe’s technical prowess and goal-scoring ability but emphasized that the player’s contributions must extend beyond just scoring. “I prefer 40 goals with titles than 60 without titles,” Mourinho said, underlining the importance of collective effort over individual statistics. The Portuguese coach encouraged Mbappe to continue demonstrating strong work ethic and leadership, highlighting the Frenchman’s early arrival for preseason as a positive sign.

Mbappe’s role at Real Madrid has gained added significance amid the club’s recent trophy drought. Since his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, Madrid has failed to secure a major title, while former club PSG has won the Champions League twice and domestic rival Barcelona has claimed consecutive La Liga titles. Despite scoring 86 goals in 103 appearances, Mbappe’s only silverware with Madrid remains the 2024 UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Mourinho pointed to teamwork as the essential factor for success this season, acknowledging the challenge of harnessing the talent within a squad that features several high-profile players. “With these players, you have to teach them to play as a team and teach them very little from an individual perspective,” he said. The 63-year-old coach hopes to instill greater unity and responsibility among the team as they strive to end their trophy drought.

Mbappe’s international exploits have also drawn praise from Mourinho. The forward secured the Golden Boot at the recent World Cup, scoring 10 goals to bring his tournament total to 22—surpassing Lionel Messi and setting a new record after breaking Miroslav Klose’s previous mark of 16. Mourinho sees Mbappe’s hunger to make history as a driving force behind his determination to succeed at Real Madrid.

As Madrid prepares for the match against Malaga, Mourinho is eager to see Mbappe contribute not just with goals but also with the leadership and effort necessary to propel the team back to winning ways. “This year, we have to win, that’s what we all want, and that’s what we’re going to do,” Mbappe stated earlier this season, reflecting the shared ambition within the club. Sunday's fixture offers another chance for the forward to add to his tally and for Real Madrid to build momentum in their pursuit of trophies.

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