Kylian Mbappe was the top scorer in La Liga, he won the European Golden Boot, he scored a hat-trick in El Clasico, he scored more goals than any Real Madrid debutant has in their first season and was his club’s best player in 2024-25. Yet his opening campaign at the Bernabeu still isn’t considered to have been a roaring success. The numbers read 43 goals in 57 appearances in all competitions, but in truth it hasn’t been the easiest start to life in Madrid for the 26-year-old. He finished the season strongly though, and Madrid arrive in the States with a new coach in Xabi Alonso and their eyes firmly set on the $125m prize for the winners.