AFCON 2025
The 2025/26 La Liga season has already affirmed what we already know; the league is scattered with talented players, dribblers and goal scorers alike.
And with Barcelona topping the La Liga table just after 31 games, Real Madrid is closely in 2nd position, and the fight to see who wins the Laliga title this season is still very much open.
Individually, Kylian Mbappe has been savaging the Real Madrid team both on his off and good days, while Lamine Yamal has been more of an influence to the Barcelona squad that has Marcus Rashford, Raphina etc.
In this article, we will compare the output of Kylian Mbappe this season with Lamine Yamal, and determine who has been a better player.
1) Kylian Mbappe
If your judgement of a better player is someone who naturally has the goal scoring ability, delivers in big high stakes games and a leader on and off the pitch, Mbappe becomes a better player this season than Yamal.
With 38 goals in just 31 appearances, he is maintaining a scoring rate that borders on ridiculous. More impressively, he is involved in a goal every 61 minutes. He is no longer just a winger cutting inside; he is a complete focal point, occupying center-backs and ruthlessly converting chances. For Real Madrid, he is the guarantee of a goal whenever he steps on the pitch.
Mbappe has played 13 penalties this season, and has coveted 12 out of the 13, the only player that comes close to this in Europe is Harry Kane who has played 13 penalties and only scored 11.
Breaking it down, Mbappe has played 23 goals in his 22 La Liga matches, and netted 13 goals in his 7 Champions league matches this season, which means that Mbappe is mostly to score one goal in any match he has played this season.
2) Lamine Yamal
If you are looking beyond a goal poacher, more like a team player, an influence generally on the game, then Lamine Yamal becomes the name to call ahead of Mbappe.
Yamal is amongst the few players this season in the La Liga who rarely has a bad day, and if he has one, he doesn’t redeem them with goals.
At just 18 years old, despite Lamine Yamal playing at the highest level, he is also directing it. While his goal tally (15) is less than half of Mbappé’s, Yamal’s impact on Barcelona’s playstyle is immeasurable.
His 13 assists highlight a player who is operating with the vision and maturity of a seasoned veteran. He is the heartbeat of Barcelona’s attack, consistently breaking down low blocks and creating high-quality opportunities for his teammates. While Mbappé finishes the play, Yamal is often the one constructing it from the right wing.
This season alone, Yamal has played 19 league games, and has scored 10 goals and provided 9 assists. Which means that the player is mostly to either score or assist in any match he plays.
Mbappe is good, Yamal is sensational, and if your judgement for a better player is on goals rather than the general influence on the game, then Mbappe is the name to call, but if your judgement is based on the general control of the game rather than goals scored, then Yamal is a better player.
