Mbappe, Vinicius restrain each other

Vinicius has not found a common voice with Mbappe.

Real Madrid currently owns two names that can be considered icons of contemporary football: Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe. Both are outstanding players, capable of deciding any match.

But ironically, when standing together on the same stage, they did not create the "harmony" as expected, but were like two stars shining in their own way, unable to blend together.

When two stars "turn their backs" on each other

The cold hard numbers bear this out. Real Madrid played a total of 6,240 minutes in all competitions across 68 games this season. Vinicius and Mbappe were on the pitch for 3,439 minutes together – 55% of the total.

This is not a small number, but the connection between them is almost "broken". Only 15% of Vinicius' passes are directed to Mbappe, while the opposite rate is 13%. It is worth mentioning that Vini is the type of player who often assists (19 times this season), he should be the one who connects with Mbappe more than anyone else. But no.

That unusually low passing rate is not just a matter of numbers, it reflects a problem of tactics, psychology and playing style. Mbappe tends to play the role of a “killer” in the penalty area, rarely participating in coordination. Vinicius is a player who likes to hold the ball, break through and create opportunities for teammates. In theory, they can complement each other. But in reality, both often choose to solve situations themselves rather than seek each other out.

This is not a new story in football. Teams with many stars sometimes fall into the “halo trap” – thinking that just having a star squad will win. Real Madrid in the “Galacticos” era had a similar problem. The squad was full of high-class players but lacked cohesion. Today, Real of Vinicius and Mbappe are facing the same problem: how can the two biggest stars “share the same table” without diminishing each other’s value?

Kylian Mbappe appeared to step on Vinicius.

The result of the lack of connection is that both players’ individual performances have suffered. Mbappe, despite still winning the Golden Boot with 44 goals this season, has seen his efficiency drop significantly: from an average of 88 minutes per goal last season to 108 minutes per goal. He has also been involved in fewer goals, from 72 minutes per goal to 97 minutes per goal.

Vinicius' decline was even worse: from 129 minutes/goal to 211 minutes/goal, and from an average of 88 minutes involved in a goal to 113 minutes.

Statistics also show that in 68 matches this season, this duo has only scored in 8 matches. More worryingly, most of those matches were in the first half of the season. Since the beginning of 2025, they have only scored in 3 matches together, and since March, they have not scored once.

It's not about talent.

It’s worth noting that both players had explosive periods, but rarely shone together. Vinicius started the season strongly, scoring 36% of his goals in the first three months alone. But since then, he has been “off” and has only scored once in the last 11 games of the season.

Mbappe, on the other hand, was slow to warm up, but finished brilliantly with 10 goals in the last 6 games of the season, helping him retain the La Liga Golden Boot (31 goals). Their two performance lines are like two magnetic poles: when one shines, the other is overshadowed.

This is no longer a personal matter, but a tactical one. Vinicius is used to playing on the left, but the arrival of Mbappe - who also prefers this position - forced Real Madrid to change. Xabi Alonso, soon after taking charge, tried to move Vini to the right wing, but it was a temporary solution, not suitable for the Brazilian's strengths.

Xabi Alonso faces a difficult personnel problem.

For Real Madrid to maintain its position in Europe, Alonso must find a formula where these two stars can complement each other rather than cancel each other out. Having more stars does not mean victory. Modern football requires balance, connection and tactical discipline. Alonso understands that he must not only coach two players, but also reconcile two big “egos” and two instinctive playing styles.

One solution could be to create a true centre-forward who can be the focal point for both of them, allowing Vinicius and Mbappe to retreat to more of a “creator” or “support” role, rather than both rushing to gain space. Or Alonso could create a new formation, one where each has their own “space” to play to their full potential.

No one doubts the class of Vinicius or Mbappe. But individual class is not enough to bring titles. The “Galacticos” era taught Real Madrid that lesson. Now, history seems to repeat itself. Alonso - starting on August 4 - will be the one facing the toughest test: turn two “opposite magnets” into a perfect duo, or make a decisive decision.

Two geniuses, but not on the same wavelength. If Real Madrid do not quickly find a solution, this combination could become the biggest blemish on the European hegemony ambitions of “Los Blancos”.

Source: https://znews.vn/mbappe-vinicius-tu-kim-ham-nhau-post1570295.html