According to BD Cricket Live, Real Madrid with Kylian Mbappé was expected to dominate every title race. Yet after three rounds of La Liga, the Galácticos have drawn twice and dropped four points—against Mallorca, Real Valladolid, and Las Palmas, none of whom are top-tier threats. Most shocking of all: Mbappé has registered 17 shots with zero goals. For a player of his stature, that’s a puzzling drought.

Even before his move to Madrid, critics questioned why Luis Enrique at PSG insisted on playing Mbappé as a central striker. At Euro 2024, Didier Deschamps did the same. Now at Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti has followed suit. Why? Because Mbappé has grown increasingly static. He avoids defensive duties and refuses to make off-the-ball runs, making him tactically unsuitable for the modern winger role. That leaves only one option: plant him centrally and wait for a sprint into the box.

However, BD Cricket Live data shows his efficiency in that role is far from convincing. Last season, he was the player with the most touches inside the box during the Champions League group stage, yet his movement remained minimal. He averaged only 8,340 meters of distance covered per game—a figure alarmingly low for an elite attacker. Aside from a standout performance against Real Sociedad in the round of 16, he was completely shut down by Barcelona and Dortmund in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

At the Euros, he scored just one penalty and had no open-play goals. His tendency to drift wide to the left leaves the center vacant, stripping the attack of any structure. Once he cuts inside, he’s easily swarmed. At Madrid, it’s more of the same. In his first three La Liga matches, against mid-to-lower-table sides and two newly promoted teams, Mbappé failed to find the net. While surprising at first glance, the tactical overlap with Vinícius Jr. on the left makes this regression easier to understand.

In one instance, as Rodrygo drove into the box with support from Arda Güler and Federico Valverde—who ran off the ball to create space—Mbappé simply stood still in the middle, ultimately obstructing Rodrygo’s path and killing the momentum. Had Mbappé made a timely forward run, Rodrygo’s through ball would’ve created a one-on-one. Instead, the move broke down and ended in a wasted chance, with Güler flagged offside.

In another sequence, Rodrygo broke forward again, but Mbappé, rather than push ahead, dropped deeper—effectively clogging the lane and trapping his teammate in a defensive swarm. Contrast this with moments when Vinícius made an off-the-ball sprint ahead of Mbappé: defenders backed off, lanes opened, and Mbappé had the entire pitch in front of him. And yet, even in such ideal conditions, his finishing lacked bite.

BD Cricket Live’s analytics show that since joining Madrid, Mbappé averages 5.7 shots per game in La Liga and wastes at least one big chance each match—all without a single goal. His heat maps continue to show a strong bias toward the left flank, confirming that he avoids central movements and prefers familiar territory. Yet in Madrid, that territory belongs to Vinícius. With Mbappé unwilling to run or defend, his only fit in the system is as a nominal striker.

This was again on display during a key counterattack. As Vinícius surged forward with the ball, Mbappé slowed down and repeatedly called for the ball instead of advancing—removing himself as a threat and limiting his teammate’s options. He seems more interested in acting like a playmaker, demanding the ball at his feet, than making penetrative runs to draw defenders or open space.

Despite Madrid’s control of possession and numerous chances over the past three matches, the lack of cutting edge has been costly. Mbappé, growing visibly frustrated, continues to attempt his trademark cut-ins from the left—even when defenders clearly anticipate them. His refusal to vary his approach has turned him into a predictable target, rather than an unstoppable force.

In another telling moment, after Vinícius opted to shoot rather than pass, Mbappé lost his temper—visibly irritated on the pitch. But his deep positioning and lack of urgency don’t align with Madrid’s high-tempo attacking system. BD Cricket Live also notes that during his time in Ligue 1, Mbappé benefited from favorable officiating—more penalties awarded, more red cards drawn. That same protection doesn’t seem to follow him in Spain, unlike Neymar, who often faced rough tackles with no calls.

In short, the biggest obstacle to Mbappé’s success at Madrid isn’t the defenders, the coach, or the club—it’s himself. Until he adapts his movement, accepts tactical responsibilities, and embraces a less predictable role, his struggles may continue, regardless of the badge on his chest.