Kylian Mbappe has wasted little time making his mark on the new La Liga season, but Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho wants the Frenchman’s influence to stretch beyond goals.
Mbappe moved to the top of the league’s scoring charts after hitting a hat-trick in Madrid’s emphatic win over Real Sociedad on Wednesday, helping Mourinho’s side record its second victory in as many matches.
The 27-year-old, who has finished as La Liga’s leading scorer in each of his first two seasons at the club, will now look to add to his tally when promoted Malaga visits the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
Mourinho, however, has made it clear that individual numbers will not define Mbappe’s season.
“I prefer 40 (goals) with titles than 60 without titles,” the Portuguese coach said, stressing the importance of Mbappe contributing to the team’s overall functioning rather than focusing solely on his own output.
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The message comes after two seasons in which Mbappe’s goals have not translated into the major trophies Real Madrid expected when he arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.
He has scored 86 times in 103 appearances across his first two campaigns, but his only silverware with Madrid has been the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup in 2024. Barcelona, meanwhile, has won the last two La Liga titles, while PSG has lifted the Champions League twice since Mbappe’s departure.
Mourinho believes the striker’s attitude since returning for pre-season has been encouraging. He praised Mbappe’s work ethic, responsibility and willingness to help the group improve, noting that the forward reported back two days early.
Mbappe also begins the club season after a historic World Cup with France, where he won the Golden Boot with 10 goals and became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 22.
For Mourinho, that appetite for records now has to be channelled into success with Madrid.
After a turbulent 2025-26 campaign, when managerial changes and Mbappe’s scoring could not prevent another trophyless season, Madrid’s focus is on becoming a more cohesive unit.
Malaga offers Mbappe another chance to increase his goal tally, but Mourinho will be measuring his impact by much more than what appears on the scoresheet.
(With inputs from AFP)
Published on Aug 27, 2026
