According to Marca, the direct link-up between Real Madrid's two strikers Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé has only resulted in 19 goals so far, accounting for 9.8% of the team's 192 goals when the two are on the field together.
They are two of Real Madrid's biggest stars and the team's most potent attacking force. However, after two seasons together, the duo hasn't yet developed enough chemistry to translate their individual threats into collective firepower, which is an area Mourinho needs to work on.
The two first appeared together on August 14, 2024, when Real Madrid defeated Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw, with Mbappe scoring his first goal in white. Since then, Real Madrid has played 125 matches, with the two playing together in 89 of them. When they played together, the team scored 192 goals, but only 19 of those goals came from direct connections between them, accounting for 9.8%. Real Madrid's total goals since the two joined forces have reached 269.
Vinicius and Mbappe's first direct connection and goal came on September 1, 2024, in Real Madrid's home game against Betis.
Next, Mourinho needs to transform these two star players from individual stars into true leaders driving the entire team. They've already proven they can do the former, and very effectively. The latter remains a problem, and the answer usually lies in winning major trophies. So far, Vinicius and Mbappe have only brought Real Madrid one European Super Cup and one Intercontinental Cup, which doesn't fully match their Real Madrid jerseys and their abilities.
