As the 2026/27 season gains momentum, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe finds himself once again at the summit of the La Liga goalscoring charts. Following a commanding hat-trick against Real Sociedad on Wednesday—which secured the club’s second consecutive league victory—the Frenchman is preparing for Sunday’s home clash against newly promoted Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Despite his prolific start, manager Jose Mourinho has emphasized that he expects more from the 27-year-old than just finding the back of the net. Describing the forward as an “incredible” talent, the 63-year-old coach stressed the importance of collective output. “I prefer 40 goals with titles than 60 without titles,” Mourinho stated, noting that he values a player who works for the team over one who plays primarily for personal statistics.
Mourinho expressed satisfaction with the forward’s current attitude, highlighting that Mbappe arrived for pre-season training two days early. The veteran coach believes that while technical instruction is minimal for a player of such caliber, the focus must remain on fostering group growth and shared responsibility. “I always say that with these players, you have to teach them to play as a team and teach them very little from an individual perspective,” he added.
The pressure to secure silverware is significant, as Real Madrid has failed to win a major trophy over the past two seasons. Since his 2024 arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe has netted 86 goals in 103 appearances, yet his only honors with the club remain the 2024 UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. During a turbulent 2025/26 campaign, the team struggled under the tenures of Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, leaving Mbappe’s individual scoring efforts insufficient to sustain a title challenge.
Mbappe enters the new campaign with renewed determination, recently telling Real Madrid TV that the squad is fully committed to winning trophies this year. His motivation is further bolstered by a historic summer; the forward secured the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup with 10 goals. This performance brought his total tournament tally to 22, allowing him to surpass Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 and move ahead of Lionel Messi in the all-time rankings.
Mourinho, who is tasked with stabilizing the squad and aligning the club’s superstars toward a common goal, remains optimistic about the forward’s hunger for success. “I’m really happy that he made history in the World Cup because there are 25 world champion players, but only one is eternal in football—the player who has the most goals in the World Cup,” the manager remarked.
As Malaga prepares to visit the capital, the focus remains on whether the team can translate individual brilliance into consistent, trophy-winning performances. While Mbappe is expected to add to his tally, Mourinho is clearly looking for a broader contribution that extends beyond the scoreline. The report also notes that but his Real Madrid boss has a bigger demand, french star has started the season on fire. The report also notes that as often happens with forwards, i prefer 40 with a lot of work for the team than 60 just playing for himself. The report also notes that that was not a criticism of Mbappe this season but instead an encouragement for the Frenchman to maintain the level he has shown so far in terms of work-rate. The report also notes that he has watched his former side go on to win the Champions League twice, while Los Blancos’ rivals Barcelona have claimed both La Liga titles in that time, since Mbappe joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024. The report also notes that the way to do that, Mourinho believes, is through teamwork.