There has been considerable discussion at the start of the season about the on-field relationship between Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid, and how Carlo Ancelotti can maximize their potential together. Despite their evident camaraderie, this has not always translated to fluid play, as demonstrated by their minimal interaction in the match at Gran Canaria, where they passed to each other only once.

ElDesmarque analyzed the key differences in their statistics using data from Driblab, focusing on LaLiga EA Sports and excluding the Super Cup. Despite Mbappé being Real Madrid’s top scorer so far this season and leading the league in shots, it is Vinicius who has been more effective in creating chances and having more touches on the ball.

Mbappé’s scoring form includes a brace against Real Betis, adding to his earlier goal in the European Super Cup, with one goal from a Fede Valverde pass and another from the penalty spot. Vinicius, on the other hand, has scored just once, against Las Palmas.

In terms of attempts, Mbappé has taken 27 shots across four games, with 18 of them blocked by goalkeepers or defenders. By contrast, Vinicius has taken just nine shots. Interestingly, the second-highest shot-taker in LaLiga is Barcelona’s Raphinha, with 15 attempts.

A significant statistical gap emerges in playmaking, as Vinicius has created 13 chances with his passing, while Mbappé has managed only one. Vinicius also holds a higher percentage of delivering dangerous passes (47.8%) compared to Mbappé’s 28.6%. In total, Vinicius has made 74 passes in the final third, surpassing Mbappé’s 52.

Both players are heavily involved in the opponent’s penalty area, with Mbappé recording 47 touches to Vinicius’s 40. Vinicius excels in dribbling, with 29 successful dribbles compared to Mbappé’s 24, ranking them second and third in LaLiga behind Lamine Yamal. When it comes to runs that end in a shot, Mbappé leads with 12 to Vinicius’s four.

One notable connection is Vinicius assisting Mbappé, which has resulted in six goal-scoring chances—the most fruitful partnership in the team, ahead of the five chances created by Valverde for Mbappé. However, the Frenchman’s only assist this LaLiga season came from Valverde, with his other goal coming from a penalty won by Vinicius.

Both players acknowledge that they are still adjusting to each other’s style. As seen in the match against Real Betis, their passing improved compared to earlier games. With Vinicius thriving as a playmaker and Mbappé as the finisher, much of Real Madrid’s success this season will depend on how well they perform in these roles.

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